An Introduction to the Mortuary Customs of the North American Indians | Page 4

the
Indian name is desired as well as the name by which the tribe is known
to the whites.
"As to 'Locality,' the response should give the range of the tribe, and be
full and geographically accurate.
"As to the 'Manner of burial,' &c, it is important to have every
particular bearing on this branch of the subject, and much minuteness is
desirable.
"For instance:
"(_a_) Was the body buried in the ground; if so, in what position, and
how was the grave prepared and finished?
"(_b_) If cremated, describe the process, and what disposal was made
of the ashes.
"(_c_) Were any utensils, implements, ornaments, &c., or food placed
in the grave? In short, every fact is sought that may possibly add to a
general knowledge of the subject.
"Answers to the fourth and fifth queries should give as full and succinct
a description as possible of funereal and other mortuary ceremonies at
the time of death and subsequently, the period of mourning, manner of
its observance, &c.
"In obtaining materials for the purpose in question it is particularly
desirable that well-authenticated sources of information only be drawn
upon, and, therefore, any points gathered from current rumor or mere
hearsay, and upon which there is doubt, should be submitted to
searching scrutiny before being embraced in answers to the several
interrogatories, and nothing should be recorded as a fact until fully

established as such.
"In seeking information from Indians, it is well to remember the great
tendency to exaggeration they show, and since absolute facts will alone
serve our purpose, great caution is suggested in this particular.
"It is earnestly desired to make the work in question as complete as
possible, and therefore it is especially hoped that your response will
cover the ground as pointed out by the several questions as thoroughly
as you may be able and willing to make it.
"In addition to notes, a reference to published papers either by yourself
or others is desirable, as well as the names of those persons who may
be able to furnish the needed information.
"Permit me to assure you that, while it is not offered in the way of
inducement to secure the service asked, since it is barely possible that
you can be otherwise than deeply interested in the extension of the
bounds of knowledge, full credit will be given you in the work for
whatever information you may be pleased to furnish.
"This material will be published under the auspices of Prof. J.W.
Powell, in charge of the U. S Geographical and Geological Survey of
the Rocky Mountain Region.
"Communications may be addressed to me either at the address given
above or at the Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C.
"Respectfully, yours,
"H. C. YARROW."
This was forwarded to every Indian agent, physicians at agencies, to a
great number of Army officers who had served or were serving at
frontier posts, and to individuals known to be interested in ethnologic
matters. A large number of interesting and valuable responses were
received, many of them showing how customs have changed either
under influences of civilization or altered circumstances of
environment.
Following this, a comprehensive list of books relating to North
American Indians was procured, and each volume subjected to careful
scrutiny, extracts being made from those that appeared in the writer's
judgment reliable. Out of a large number examined up to the present
time, several hundred have been laid under contribution, and the labor
of further collation still continues.
It is proper to add that all the material obtained will eventually be

embodied in a quarto volume, forming one of the series of
contributions to North American Ethnology prepared under the
direction of Maj. J. W. Powell, Director of the Bureau of Ethnology,
Smithsonian Institution, from whom, since the inception of the work,
most constant encouragement and advice has been received, and to
whom all American ethnologists owe a debt of gratitude which can
never be repaid.
Having thus called attention to the work and the methods pursued in
collecting data, the classification of the subject may be given and
examples furnished of the burial ceremonies among different tribes,
calling especial attention to similar or almost analogous customs
among the peoples of the Old World.
For our present purpose the following provisional arrangement of
burials may be adopted:
1st. By INHUMATION in pits, graves, holes in the ground, mounds;
cists, and caves.
2d. By CREMATION, generally on the surface of the earth,
occasionally beneath, the resulting bones or ashes being placed in pits,
in the ground, in boxes placed on scaffolds or trees, in urns, sometimes
scattered.
3d. By EMBALMENT or a process of mummifying, the remains being
afterwards placed in the earth, caves, mounds, or charnel-houses.
4th. By AERIAL SEPULTURE, the bodies being deposited on
scaffolds or