s
laid up as we build a cabin, but drawing in every course until they
meet in a single log at the top.

The writer has recently received from Prof. C. Engelhardt, of
Copenhagen, Denmark, a brochure describing the oak coffins of
Borum-AEshoei. From an engraving in this volume it would appear that the
manner employed by the ancient Danes of hollowing out logs for coffins
has its analogy among the North American Indians.

Romantically conceived, and carried out to the fullest possible extent
in accordance with the _ante mortem_ wishes of the dead, were the
obsequies of Blackbird, the great chief of the Omahas. The account is
given by George Catlin:[40]

He requested them to take his body down the river to this his
favorite haunt, and on the pinnacle of this towering bluff to bury
him on the back of his favorite war-horse, which was to be buried
alive under him, from whence he could see, as he said, "the
Frenchmen passing up and down the river in their boats." He owned,
amongst many horses, a noble white steed, that was led to the top of
the grass-covered hill, and with great pomp and ceremony, in the
presence of the whole nation and several of the fur-traders and the
Indian agent, he was placed astride of his horse's back, with his
bow in his hand, and his shield and quiver slung, with his pipe and
his medicine bag, with his supply of dried meat, and his
tobacco-pouch replenished to last him through the journey to the
beautiful hunting grounds of the shades of his fathers, with his
flint, his steel, and his tinder to light his pipe by the way; the
scalps he had taken from his enemies' heads could be trophies for
nobody else, and were hung to the bridle of his horse. He was in
full dress, and fully equipped, and on his head waved to the last
moment his beautiful head-dress of the war-eagles' plumes. In this
plight, and the last funeral honors having been performed by the
medicine-men, every warrior of his band painted the palm and fingers
of his right hand with vermillion, which was stamped and perfectly
impressed on the milk-white sides of his devoted horse. This all
done, turfs were brought and placed around the feet and legs of the
horse, and gradually laid up to its sides, and at last over the back
and head of the unsuspecting animal, and last of all over the head
and even the eagle plumes of its valiant rider, where all together
have smouldered and remained