d in
an erect posture on a mat or skin, placed in the middle of the
hut, with his weapons by his side. His relatives, seated around,
each harangues the deceased; and if he has been a great warrior,
recounts his heroic actions nearly to the following purport,
which in the Indian language is extremely poetical and pleasing:

"'You still sit among us, brother; your person retains its usual
resemblance, and continues similar to ours, without any visible
deficiency except it has lost the power of action. But whither
is that breath flown which a few hours ago sent up smoke to the
Great Spirit? Why are those lips silent that lately delivered to
us expressions and pleasing language? Why are those feet
motionless that a short time ago were fleeter than the deer on
yonder mountains? Why useless hang those arms that could climb
the tallest tree or draw the toughest bow? Alas! Every part of
that frame which we lately beheld with admiration and wonder is
now become as inanimate as it was three hundred years ago! We
will not, however, bemoan thee as if thou wast forever lost to
us, or that thy name would be buried in oblivion. Thy soul yet
lives in the great country of spirits with those of thy nation
that have gone before thee, and though we are left behind to
perpetuate thy fame, we shall one day join thee.

"'Actuated by the respect we bore thee whilst living, we now
come to tender thee the last act of kindness in our power; that
thy body might not lie neglected on the plain and become a prey
to the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, we will
take care to lay it with those of thy ancestors who have gone
before thee, hoping at the same time that thy spirit will feed
with their spirits, and be ready to receive ours when we shall
also arrive at the great country of souls.'"

I have heard many speeches made by the descendants of these same
Indians, and have many times addressed them on all manner of subjects,
but I never heard anything quite so elegant as the oration put into
their mouths by Carver. I have always discovered that a good interpreter
makes a good speech. On one occasion, when a delegation of Pillager
Chippewas was in Washington to settle some matters with the government,
they wanted a certain concession which the Indian commissioner would not
allow, and they appealed to the president, who was t