siOBX; - Smithsonian Institution

186 BUEEAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Cull. 103
through cracks in the house so as to start the pus running out and
cause more rapid decomposition.
Mrs. McCurtain, widow of one of the governors of the Choctaw
Nation, had heard of the ancient mortuary customs but had never
seen them. She told me that in her time the last funeral ceremonies
were about a month after death, a date having been agreed upon in
advance. Meanwhile all of the friends of the dead went back and
forth to his grave along with the afflicted family, and mourned there
without speaking to one another, after which they would visit his
former home. In later times on the day of the final ceremonies they
always had a man to hold a service at the house, after which he gave
out notice that the last ceremony would be at the grave, and when
all had assembled there they moaned and sang a hymn, and then
prayer was offered. After that they repaired to the house and the
feast took place. The food for this, consisting of beef, pork, and
various dishes made of corn, was contributed by the different branches
of the dead man's family, and a certain person was appointed to
collect this. Another person superintended the cooking. All sat
down and the food was distributed to them. The feast being concluded,
all returned home.
Mr. A. L. Tinsley, of Philadelphia, Miss., who was for many years
a near neighbor of the Bok Chito Band of Choctaw, the band
least modified by white influence, furnished me the following notes
from his own direct observations
The body of the deceased was extended at full length in the ground, and
articles tliat had belonged to him such as his gun, ballsticks, beaded belts,
articles of clothing, or in the case of a woman, pots and kettles, were laid by it.
Then part of the earth was thrown in and two strong Indians jumped down
on it and trod it down firmly all about. Afterward they procured three poles
which they planted at the head, a longer one in the middle, and a shorter one
on each side of it. Garlands of leaves, vines, etc., were hung over these. The
next morning and for a number of mornings after, just as the sun was rising
above the horizon, the relatives of the dead man went to his grave and wailed
there, genuine tears running down their faces. After it was over a great
number of people were called together and a great cry indulged in which was
followed by a feast, and this again by a dance lasting nearly all night. Next
day they had a game of ball.
One informant ventured the assertion that poles were planted only
at the graves of persons killed in battle. This may have been true
anciently, but certainly not in later times, and Halbert seems to have
heard nothing about it.
Simpson Tubby contributed the following notes regarding the
later ceremony.
When anyone died the families of both parents of the deceased met and
mourned until the remains had been put into the ground. They consulted to-