ry. This hilarity is similar to that shown by the Japanese at a
funeral, who rejoice that the troubles and worries of the world are over
for the fortunate dead. The plundering of strangers present, it may be
remembered, also took place among the Indians of the Carolinas. As
already mentioned on a preceding page, the cruel manner in which the
widow is treated seems to be a modification of the Hindoo suttee, but,
if the account be true, it would appear that death might be preferable
to such torments.

It is interesting to note that in Corsica, as late as 1743, if a husband
died, women threw themselves upon the widow and beat her severely.
Brohier quaintly remarks that this custom obliged women to take good
care of their husbands.

George Gibbs, in Schoolcraft,[52] states that among the Indians of Clear
Lake, California, "the body is consumed upon a scaffold built over a
hole, into which the ashes are thrown and covered."

According to Stephen Powers,[53] cremation was common among the Se-nel
of California. He thus relates it.

The dead are mostly burned. Mr. Willard described to me a scene of
incremation that he once witnessed, which was frightful for its
exhibitions of fanatic frenzy and infatuation. The corpse was that
of a wealthy chieftain, and as he lay upon the funeral pyre they
placed in his month two gold twenties, and other smaller coins in
his ears and hands, on his breast, &c. besides all his finery, his
feather mantles, plumes, clothing, shell money, his fancy bows,
painted arrows, &c. When the torch was applied they set up a
mournful ululation, chanting and dancing about him, gradually
working themselves into a wild and ecstatic raving, which seemed
almost a demoniacal possession, leaping, howling, lacerating their
flesh. Many seemed to lose all self-control. The younger
English-speaking Indians generally lend themselves charily to such
superstitious work, especially if American spectators are present,
but even they were carried away by the old contagious frenzy of
their race. One stripped off a broadcloth coat, quite new and fine,
and ran frantically yelling and cast it upon the blazing pile.
Another rushed up, and was about to throw on a pile of California
blankets, when a white man, to test his sincerity, offend him $16
for them, jingling the bright coins before his eyes, but the savage
(for such he had become again for the moment) otherwise so
avaricious, h