The new blanket
which, perhaps, was only worn a day or two by the departed, will now,
with scrupulous care, be wrapped around his dead body; for although
he were blanketless himself, no Indian could be persuaded to use that
which had once been a dead man's property. Then, it may be, the
corpse would be left lying in the leather lodge or tent, which would
afterwards be closely fastened up; and it has sometimes devolved upon
the Missionaries to spend the night outside, watching the camp and
keeping a fire burning in order to ward off dogs or wolves, which
would otherwise undoubtedly have broken into the tent and made short
work of the lifeless body deserted by all its friends and neighbours
and dearest connexions.
In the case of the wife of Michel, however, there arose a feeling
among her people in the camp, which appeared to be unanimous, not to
leave her poor mangled body deserted in the lodge, but at once to
commit it to the earth. Accordingly the women ceased their wailing,
there was a call for action, and each one bestirred himself with as
much earnestness and self-restraint as possible. Two or three of the
men started off to dig the grave (a work of no small labour at that
time when, be it remembered, the frost was hardly out of the ground),
others gathered round the women who were wrapping the deceased in her
blanket, with her shawl and handkerchief, her beaded leggings, and
moccasins, which were hunted out, one by one, and put on her with
loving, albeit trembling hands.
Pages:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35