Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08

body and the life beyond the grave. and
have blended this doctrine and the burial
customs of the Catholic Church with the
original rites of paganism.
is destined to lie a certain length OF
time in the grave. and at the expiration
of that period the resurrection takes
place. For this reason they are very
particular to record upon the rude board
cross or stone slab with which they
mark the grave the exact time at which
the deceased ceased to live The in
scription will state that such a person
died on the 10Th day of July, 1899. at
l o'clock in the afternoon. In some
cases cheap alarm clocks are hung to
the cross, the hands being set at the hour
and minute when death occurred.
In the Coahuilla cemetery. in the Colo
RADIO desert. is a curious litter. used by
last resting place. 1t consists Of two
poles, the handles of which are cum
ningly inlaid with tiny pieces of horr
and bone, the poles being joined together
by stringers of horsehide. upon which
the bodies are laid. The burial of the
dead is accompanied by elaborate cere-
monies. including the chanting songs and
prayers, the giving of gifts 10 thu
departed. and The burning of the palm
tree which was planted at the birth OF
the departed, and which bore his or her
name.
The Yuma Indians of the Colorado des-
err cremate their dead A funeral pyre
is erected as soon as or before. death
takes place, and the burning Of the body
takes place as soon after death as the
arrangements can be- completed. The
clothing and personal effects of the de-
parted are consumed with the body, to-
gether with quantity of food to las,
the spirit on its journey to the realm of
pleasure whence it is bound. The house
is also burned. that those who survive
may not be reminded of one who is
gone. for, they say, memory is but sor-
row.
In the western part Of Utah. in the
Great Salt Lake desert. is valley called
Skull valley. because of the great mum
Der of human skulls and bones found
there. This locality is the home of the
Gosh-Ute Indians, who have one Of the
mos, unique burial customs known. This
consists of weighing the body with stones
and sinking it in the mud and water OF
the few springs to be found in that region
of thirst.
The Achomawi Indians of California
burial and part cremation. They dig q
big hole in the ground Of sufficient deptl
to admit the body standing, leaving only
the head above the level of the ground
The head is then cut off, the weapons
aud the personal effects of the deceased
are placed in the grave beside the body
together with a quantity of food, and
the grave is then filled. Then fagot.
are placed upon the grave and the heat
is burned to ashes thereon. During the
burning the friends and relatives stant
about and chant a mournful song.
The Yo-kai-a Indians practice crema
ton accompanied by elaborate demon
strations of grief and the chanting OF
songs They visit the abode of the de-
parted daily for year, sprinkling mea
upon the ground to serve as food for tn;
spirit. When woman loses her husband
she mixes his ashes with pitch, makini
a white paste and she smears it around
her head. making a white band about
two inches wide. which she wears as q
badge of mourning.
The karok. Indians of California per
petuate the memory of their departed
friends by abstaining from all mentor
of them. If one is so forgetful as t6
mention the name of one of the dead the
others are shocked. for it Is their belief
that the mention of the name cause:
the body or bones in the grave to turr
and moan, and the spirit is halted or
its journey toward the spirit land. In
fact, the mention of the name of a de-
parted friend Is deadly insult to the
living relatives and is punishable by the
laws of the tribe with the same penalt,
as murder. a very heavy fine, known a:
blood money"