disposing of the dead by the Parsee secretary are quite at variance with
the ideas advanced by Muret regarding the ancient Persians, and to which
allusion has already been made. It might be supposed that somewhat
similar motives to those governing the Parsees actuated those of the
North American Indians who deposit their dead on scaffolds and trees,
but the theory becomes untenable when it is recollected that great care
is taken to preserve the dead from the ravages of carnivorous birds, the
corpse being carefully enveloped in skins and firmly tied up with ropes
or thongs.

Figures 3 and 4 are representations of the Parsee towers of silence,
drawn by Mr. Holmes, mainly from the description given.

George Gibbs[11] gives the following account of burial among the Klamath
and Trinity Indians of the Northwest coast, the information having been
originally furnished him by James G. Swan.

The graves, which are in the immediate vicinity of their
houses, exhibit very considerable taste and a laudable care.
the dead are inclosed in rude coffins formed by placing four
boards around the body, and covered with earth to some
depth; a heavy plank, often supported by upright head and
foot stones, is laid upon the top, or stones are built up
into a wall about a foot above the ground, and the top
flagged with others. The graves of the chiefs are
surrounded by neat wooden palings, each pale ornamented with
a feather from the tail of the bald eagle. Baskets are
usually staked down by the side, according to the wealth or
popularity of the individual, and sometimes other articles
for ornament or use are suspended over them. The funeral