is left
undisturbed in front of the lodge. The gifts as they are brought in
are piled in the back part of the lodge, and are not to be touched
until given out. No one but men and boys are admitted to the lodge
unless it be a wife of the deceased, who may go in if necessary very
early in the morning. The men sit inside, as they choose, to smoke,
eat, and converse. As they smoke they empty the ashes from their
pipes in the center of the lodge, and they, too, are left
undisturbed until after the distribution. When they eat, a portion
is always placed first under the roll outside for the spirit of the
deceased. No one is allowed to take this unless a large quantity is
so placed, in which case it may be eaten by any persons actually in
need of food, even though strangers to the dead. When the proper
time comes the friends of the deceased and all to whom presents are
to be given are called together to the lodge and the things are
given out by the man in charge. Generally this is some near relative
of the departed. The roll is now undone and small locks of the hair
distributed with the other presents, which ends the ceremony.

Sometimes this "keeping the ghost" is done several times, and it is
then looked upon as a repetition of the burial or putting away of
the dead. During all the time before the distribution of the hair,
the lodge, as well as the roll, is looked upon as in a manner
sacred, but after that ceremony it becomes common again and may be
used for any ordinary purpose. No relative or near friend of the
dead wishes to retain anything in his possession that belonged to
him while living, or to see, hear, or own anything which will remind
him of the departed. Indeed, the leading idea in all their burial
customs in the laying away with the dead their most valuable
possessions, the giving to others what is left of his and the family
property, the refusal to mention his name, &c., is to put out of
mind as soon and as effectual as possible the memory of the
departed.

From what has been said, however, it will be seen that they believe
each person to have a spirit which continues to live after the death
of the body. They have no idea of a future life in the body, but
believe that after death their spirits will meet and recognize the
spirits of their departed friends in the spirit land. They deem it
essential to their happiness here, however, to des