Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...said to him: The Ancients of our country, being accustomed to dry each others tears, when they are afflicted by any misfortune, we come, Achiendase', to perform for you this duty of friendship. We weep with thee because misfortune can not touch thee without piercing us by the same stroke; and we are unable, without extreme sorrow, to see thee so ill used in our land, after having left thine own where thou wast perfectly at thy ease... This present is to level the earth in which I have put them, and this other to erect a palisade around their tomb, in order that the beasts and birds of prey may not disturb their repose... These were the appropriate terms of the speech of this grave barbarian, which was accompanied by eight beautiful presents of wampum, which he made in the name of the public. Several individuals used the same civility and the same liberality, which we have acknowledged with interest on all occasions that we could find. In later days it was customary to express this personal sorrow at some convenient meeting of a general nature, and sometimes after an interval of months or years. Some trace of it yet remains in the Iroquois dead feast at the end of 10 days. Long mourning is now discountenanced, being a cause of sorrow to the dead. In 1657 there was mentioned "the custom that the relatives and Ancients have, of keeping together in the night which follows the day of the funeral, in order to relate old stories," but such features were subject to frequent change, and sometimes were of a local character. There are appropriate songs and games to be used between the death and burial, but these are features of feasts and not of councils. Adoption Closely related to the condoling council was the ceremony of adoption, ...