assisted in placing dead members of his tribe.  He described it in detail and drew a rough diagram of its position and appearance within.  He was asked if an entrance could be effected, and replied that he thought not, as some years previous his people had stopped up the narrow entrance to prevent game from seeking a refuge in its vast vaults, for he asserted that it was so large and extended so far under ground that no man knew its full extent.  In consideration, however, of a very liberal bribe, after many refusals, he agreed to act as guide.  A rough ride of over an hour and the desired spot was reached.  It was found to be almost upon the apex of a small mountain apparently of volcanic origin, for the hole which was pointed out appeared to have been the vent of the crater.  This entrance was irregularly circular in form and descended at an angle.  As the Indian had stated, it was completely stopped up with large stones and roots of sage brash, and it was only after six hours of uninterrupted, faithful labor that the attempt to explore was abandoned.  The guide was asked if many bodies were therein, and replied “Heaps, heaps,” moving the hands upwards as far they could be stretched.  There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the information received, as it was voluntarily imparted.

In a communication received from Dr. A.J.  McDonald, physician to the Los Pinos Indian Agency, Colorado, a description is given of crevice or rock-fissure burial, which follows: 

As soon as death takes place the event is at once announced by the medicine man, and without loss of time the squaws are busily engaged in preparing the corpse for the grave.  This does not take long; whatever articles of clothing may have been on the body at the time of death are not removed.  The dead man’s limbs are straightened out, his weapons of war laid by his side, and his robes and blankets wrapped securely and snugly around him, and now everything is ready for burial.  It is the custom to secure if possible, for the purpose of wrapping up the corpse, the robes and blankets in which the Indian died.  At the same time that the body is being fitted for internment, the squaws having immediate care of it, together with all the other squaws in the neighborhood, keep up a continued chant or dirge, the dismal cadence of which may, when the congregation of women is large, be heard for quite a long distance.  The death song is not a mere inarticulate howl of distress; it embraces expressions eulogistic in character, but whether or not any particular formula of words is adopted on such occasion is a question which I am unable, with the materials at my disposal, to determine with any degree of certainty.

The next duty falling to the lot of the squaws is that of placing the dead man on a horse and conducting the remains to the spot chosen for burial.  This is in the cleft of a rock, and, so far as can be ascertained, it has always been customary among the Utes to select