dians of the northwest coast, so far as known.

_SUPERTERRENE AND AERIAL BURIAL IN CANOES._

The next mode of burial to be remarked is that of deposit in canoes,
either supported on posts, on the ground, or swung from trees, and is
common only to the tribes inhabiting the northwest coast.

The first example given relates to the Chinooks of Washington Territory,
and may be found in Swan.[80]

In this instance old Cartumhays, and old Mahar, a celebrated doctor,
were the chief mourners, probably from being the smartest scamps
among the relatives. Their duty was to prepare the canoe for the
reception of the body. One of the largest and best the deceased had
owned was then hauled into the woods, at some distance back of the
lodge, after having been first thoroughly washed and scrubbed. Two
large square holes were then cut in the bottom, at the bow and
stern, for the twofold purpose of rendering the canoe unfit for
further use, and therefore less likely to excite the cupidity of the
whites (who are but too apt to help themselves to these depositories
for the dead), and also to allow any rain to pass off readily.

When the canoe was ready, the corpse, wrapped in blankets, was
brought out, and laid in it on mats previously spread. All the
wearing apparel was next put in beside the body, together with her
trinkets, beads, little baskets, and various trifles she had prized.
More blankets were then covered over the body, and mats smoothed
over all. Next, a small canoe, which fitted into the large one, was
placed, bottom up, over the corpse, and the whole then covered with
mats. The canoe was then raised up and placed on two parallel bars,
elevated four or five feet from the ground, and supported by being
inserted through holes mortised at the top of four stout posts
previously firmly planted in the earth. Around these holes were then
hung blankets, and all the cooking utensils of the deceased, pots,
kettles, and pans, each with a hole punched through it, and all her
crockery-ware, every piece of which was first cracked or broken, to
render it useless; and then, when all was done, they left her to
remain for one year, when the bones would be buried in a box in the
earth directly under the canoe; but that, with all its appendages,
would never be molested, but left to go to gradual decay.

They regard these canoes precisely as we regard coffins, and would
no more t