Esquimaux Eskimo Lodge Burial West Coast Alaska 1881
Capt. F. W. Beechey describes a curious mode of burial among the Esquimaux on the west coast of Alaska, which appears to be somewhat similar to lodge burial. Figure 11, after his illustration, affords a good idea of these burial receptacles.
"In some instances a platform was constructed of drift-wood, raised about two feet and a quarter from the ground, upon which the body was placed, with its head to the westward, and a double tent of drift-wood erected over it; the inner one with spars about seven feet long, and theouter one with some that were three times that length. They were placed close together, and at first no doubt sufficiently so to prevent the depredations of foxes and wolves ; but they had yielded at last ; and all the bodies, and even the hides that covered them, had suffered by these rapacious animals.In these tents of tbe dead there were no coffins or planks, as at Cape Espenburg; the bodies were dressed in a frock made of eider-duck skins, with one of deer-skin over it, and were covered with a sea-horse hide, such as the natives use for their buidars. Suspended to the poles, and on the ground near them, were several Esqui maux implements, consisting of wooden trays, paddles, and a tamborine, which, we were informed as well as signs could convey the meaning of the natives, were placed there for the use of the deceased, who, iu the next world (pointing to the westernsky) ate, drank, and sang songs." Page 154
134 year old original print from First annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-80, by J. W. Powell, Director. Washington Government Printing Office 1881
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Condition:
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