0015

Burial Ceremonies for a Chief or a Priest

When a chief dies, he is buried with great solemnities; his drinking cup is placed upon the grave, and arrows are planted in the ground around it. His subjects mourn for him for three whole days and nights without eating anything. The other chiefs and his friends do likewise, and both men and women cut off half their long tresses in token of their love for him. The household goods belonging to the dead chief are put in his house, and the house is set on fire. For six months after his death certain chosen women mourn for him three times a day--at dawn, noon, and twilight-- with a great howling.

When a priest dies, he is buried in his own house, and the whole is then burned, dwelling, furniture, body, and all.

Monday, 15-May-95 14:17:42 PDT