As we drew near, we heard a low, wailing chant, and Mikála, one of
my men, informed me that it was women lamenting for the dead. On
landing, I saw several Indians hewing out the box in which the dead
are placed. * * * The body lay on its side on a deer skin, the heels
were lashed to the small of the back, and the head bent forward on
the chest so that his coffin needed to be only about four feet long.
_TREE AND SCAFFOLD BURIAL._
We may now pass to what may be called aerial sepulture proper, the most
common examples of which are tree and scaffold burial, quite extensively
practiced even at the present time. From what can be learned the choice
of this mode depends greatly on the facilities present, where timber
abounds, trees being used, if absent, scaffolds being employed.
From William J. Cleveland, of the Spotted Tail Agency, Nebraska, has
been received a most interesting account of the mortuary customs of the
Brulé or Teton Sioux, who belong to the Lakotah alliance. They are
called _Sicaugu_, in the Indian tongue _Seechaugas_, or the “burned
thigh” people. The narrative is given in its entirety, not only on
account of its careful attention to details, but from its known
truthfulness of description. It relates to tree and scaffold burial.