Show 270 STUDEXT LIFE Capt Jim The Captain was a man of lame in his tribe and of course was accorded a burial befitting his position A coffin and many beautiful blankets were purchased from a nearby town and the body was dressed in suitable clothing and placed in the coffin ready for the white man's funeral People coming from town to view the remains were attracted when within half a mile of the place by the whining moaning sounds resembling those of some wild animal Upon coming within sight of the house (for Capt Jim was prosperous and owned a house) they saw many Indians congregated in the front yard These Indians were the mourners and were hired for that special purpose receiving blankets in payment for their The most prominent services of the group was an old squaw whose bare arms and legs were hacked to a jelly and her clothing what little there was covered with blood that oozed from the wounds Many others had cut themselves but none had been so brave as she The white visitors were met at the gate by the educated daughter of the dead Captain who escorted the guests to the corpse and explained the whole ceremony frankly showing no signs of sorrow The mourners continued t1’ tiowling through the night the purpose being to keep away the evil Late in the evening the spirits white man’s clothes were removed and the corpse was wrapped in the self-inflict- ed bright colored blankets ready for the Indian burial next day Early next morning the funeral procession consisting of a few peo- ple in buggies and many on horse back all gaily decked out in feath- ers heads paint and blankets started on its solemn march to the hills Part way up the mountain side they came to a point cleared of its foliage by the howling wind Here a grave had been prepared Without ceremony the body still in the coffin was lowered into the ground Then blankets by the dozmedien a gun ammunition cine food and manv trinkets followed A new wagon box was placed bottom side up over the contents after which the Captain’s favorite horse with a full riding equipment was led forward shot and tumbled in A contrivance resembling a willow fence was placed over the top of the grave and covered with dirt In this condition the Captain was ready when the time should some to ride swift-l- v to the “happy hunting grounds” This might have been all but the savage in his return to nature had not forgotten his country An American flag was planted and left alone to wave on the mountain side over the remains of one of nature’s own children Who ever had a wilder and a freer grave? As a climax to the savage procedure patriotism the noblest trait of man stands out above all others I had the good fortune not long ago of witnessing an Indian gnss dance and it came as a direct con- -- |