Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/192

182 tasted, and then a bowl full of it was presented to the dead man. He was then taken up by four men and carried outside of the village, just into the edge of the woods, and placed on a stage which had been previously erected, about ten feet high. The bowl of food was brought and set by his head, and his arms and accoutrements laid by his side. In this manner their dead are deposited, and are never buried. The wife and relations of the deceased made the most violent and dreadful howlings, tearing their hair, and appearing to be in the deepest anguish, under the loss they had sustained.

The Mandans and Gross-Ventres are of the lightest complexion, and largest Indians on the Missouri. Their hair inclines to a chesnut colour, and in some instances has a slight curl; it is never so lank and coarse as most other Indians. Their eyes are full and lively, their cheek bones rather high, and their countenances open and agreeable. The Gross-Ventres have more of a fierce, savage look, than the Mandans who are courteous, and sociable in their behaviour. They are neat in their dress, which is similar to that of the Rus, excepting that they decorate it with white rabbit, and white ermine skins. Many of their lodges, or huts, are decorated in a beautiful manner; having the inside lined with the richest furs, such as the lynx, beaver, otter, white rabbit, martin, fox, mountain cat, and white ermine, sewed together like patch work, which gives them a rich