Sternberg, United States Army, and furnished by Dr. George A. Otis,
United States Army, Army Medical Museum, Washington, D.C. It relates to
the Cheyennes of Kansas.

The case was found, Brevet Major Sternberg states, on the banks of
Walnut Creek, Kansas, elevated about eight feet from the ground by
four notched poles, which were firmly planted in the ground. The
unusual care manifested in the preparation of the case induced Dr.
Sternberg to infer that some important chief was inclosed in it.
Believing that articles of interest were inclosed with the body, and
that their value would be enhanced if the were received at the
Museum as left by the Indians, Dr. Sternberg determined to send the
case unopened.

[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Chippewa Scaffold Burial.]

I had the case opened this morning and an inventory made of the
contents. The case consisted of a cradle of interlaced branches of
white willow, about six feet long, three feet broad, and three feet
high, with a flooring of buffalo thongs arranged as a net-work. This
cradle was securely fastened by strips of buffalo-hide to four poles
of ironwood and cottonwood, about twelve feet in length. These poles
doubtless rested upon the forked extremities of the vertical poles
described by Dr. Sternberg. The cradle was wrapped in two buffalo
robes of large size and well preserved. On removing these an
aperture eighteen inches square was found at the middle of the
right-side of the cradle or basket. Within appeared other buffalo
robes folded about the remains, and secured by gaudy-colored sashes.
Five robes were successively removed, making seven in all. Then we
came to a series of new blankets folded about the remains. There
were five in all--two scarlet, two blue, and one white. These being
removed, the next wrappings consisted of a striped white and gray
sack, and of a United States Infantry overcoat, like the other
coverings nearly new. We had now come apparently upon the immediate
envelope of the remains, which it was now evident must be those of a
child. These consisted of three robes, with hoods very richly
ornamented with bead-work. These robes or cloaks were of
buffalo-calf skin about four feet in length, elaborately decorated
with bead-work in stripes. The outer was covered with rows of blue
and white bead-work, the second was green and yellow, and the third
blue and red. All were further ador