out some locks of hair as a memento.  The head-dress was then carefully replaced, the lid of the coffin fastened, and the corpse let down into the ground.  Two stout poles were then laid over the open grave.  The brother approached the widow and stood still.  The orator then addressed a few words to both, telling the survivor to perform a brother’s part by the widow.  He then took her by the hand, and led her carefully across the open grave, over the two poles.  This closed the ceremony, and the grave was then filled, and the crowd of white and red men dispersed.  At night a small flickering fire was built by the Indian relatives of the murdered man, at the head of the grave.

27th.  Making inquiries respecting the family of Soan-ga-ge-zhick, in order to direct some provisions to be issued to them, I learned that the widow is a prophetess among her people, or in other words a female Jossakeed, and is supposed to have much influence in this way.  This denotes that the prophetic office is not, as has been supposed, confined to males.  I cannot better indicate the meaning of the word Jossakeed than to say that it is a person who makes oracular responses from a close lodge of peculiar construction, where the inmate is supposed to be surrounded by superhuman influences, which impart the power of looking into futurity.  It is, manifestly, the ancient office of a seer, and after making interrogatories about it, from persons supposed to be best acquainted with the manners and customs of the people, the existence of such an order of persons among them offers a curious coincidence with one of the earliest superstitions of mankind.  I further learn that there is nothing hereditary in the descent of such priestly functions; that any one, who acquires a character for sanctity or skill therein among the bands, may assume the duties, and will secure a rank and respect in proportion to his supposed skill therein.  Having spoken of descent, it is added, by my informants, that the widow of Strong Sky, is a granddaughter of the noted war-chief Wabodjeeg,[19] of Chegoimegon, Lake Superior, who, some half a century ago, had obtained a high reputation with his people for his military skill and bravery, in the war against the Ottogamies and Sioux.  They talk of him as having been a sort of Rajah, who could at any time get men to follow him.

[Footnote 19:  White Fisher.  The fisher is a small furred animal resembling the mustela.]

28th.  I have had an interview to-day with Ka-ba-konse (Little Hawk), brother of the murdered Strong Sky.

It does not seem possible to obtain much information respecting their secret beliefs and superstitions direct from the Indians.  The attempts I have made thus far have, at least, been unsuccessful, partly, perhaps, because the topic was not properly apprehended by them, or by my ordinary office interpreter, who, I find, is soon run a-muck by anything but the plainest and most ordinary line of inquiry.  A man of the