Chapter 9 cont. MODE OF BURIAL For the squaws and papooses, shallowholes were dug, the bodies wrapped in mats made of woven flags or rushes fastened together, with cords made of lint of nettles, then after being covered with earth the graves were surrounded with split or round pickets.  The chiefs were set upright, lashed firmly to stakes with their war implements around them; slabs of wood were put in and usually a pole was set up with a flag on it.  The braves were well cared for, and in two instances that the writer knows of, a hollow tree was split to form a trough or coffin shape, the remains put in with guns, bows, arrows and other accoutrements.  After arranging these the whole was raised several feet from the ground and suspended by strong lassoes made from rawhide, to the limbs of the trees.  The flags mentioned above were of red or any other dark shade of cotton cloth, usually calico.  The writer has also seen dishes or bowls placed about the graves and containing remnants of food which was supposed to sustain them through the journey to the spirit land. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L