sunset to sunrise, and from this custom there is no relaxation even during the hottest days of summer!  While the doctor is performing his last operations she must lie on the pile, and after the fire is applied to it she cannot stir until the doctor orders her to be removed, which, however, is never done until her body is completely covered with blisters.  After being placed on her legs, she is obliged to pass her hands gently through the flame and collect some of the liquid fat which issues from the corpse, with which she is permitted to wet her face and body.  When the friends of the deceased observe the sinews of the legs and arms beginning to contract they compel the unfortunate widow to go again on the pile, and by dint of hard pressing to straighten those members.

If during her husband’s life time she has been known to have committed any act of infidelity or omitted administering to him savory food or neglected his clothing, &c. she is now made to suffer severely for such lapses of duty by his relations, who frequently fling her in the funeral pile, from which she is dragged by her friends, and thus between alternate scorching and cooling she is dragged backwards and forwards until she falls into a state of insensibility.

After the process of burning the corpse has terminated, the widow collects the larger bones, which she rolls up in an envelope of birch bark and which she is obliged for some years afterwards to carry on her back.  She is now considered and treated as a slave, all the laborious duties of cooking, collecting food, &c. devolve on her.  She must obey the orders of all the women, and even of the children belonging to the village, and the slightest mistake or disobedience subjects her to the infliction of a heavy punishment.  The ashes of her husband are carefully collected and deposited in a grave which it is her duty to keep free from weeds, and should any such appear, she is obliged to root them out with her fingers.  During this operation her husband’s relatives stand by and beat her in a cruel manner until the task is completed or she falls a victim to their brutality.  The wretched widows, to avoid this complicated cruelty, frequently commit suicide.  Should she, however, linger on for three or four years, the friends of her husband agree to relieve her from the her painful mourning.  This is a ceremony of much consequence and the preparations for it occupy a considerable time generally from six to eight months.  The hunters proceed to the various districts in which deer and beaver abound and after collecting large quantities of meat and fur return to the village.  The skins are immediately bartered for guns, ammunition, clothing, trinkets, &c.  Invitations are then sent to the inhabitants of the various friendly villages, and when they have all assembled the feast commences, and presents are distributed to each visitor.  The object of their meeting is then explained, and the woman is brought forward,