life, is entirely consistent with his character and philosophy.
Death has no terrors for him; he meets it with simplicity and
perfect calm, seeking only an honorable end as his last gift to his
family and descendants. Therefore he courts death in battle; on
the other hand, he would regard it as disgraceful to be
killed in a private quarrel. If one be dying at home, it is
customary to carry his bed out of doors as the end approaches, that
his spirit may pass under the open sky.

Next to this, the matter that concerns him most is the parting
with his dear ones, especially if he have any little children who
must be left behind to suffer want. His family affections are
strong, and he grieves intensely for the lost, even though he has
unbounded faith in a spiritual companionship.

The outward signs of mourning for the dead are far more
spontaneous and convincing than is the correct and
well-ordered black of civilization. Both men and women among us
loosen their hair and cut it according to the degree of
relationship or of devotion. Consistent with the idea of
sacrificing all personal beauty and adornment, they trim off
likewise from the dress its fringes and ornaments, perhaps cut it
short, or cut the robe or blanket in two. The men blacken their
faces, and widows or bereaved parents sometimes gash their arms and
legs till they are covered with blood. Giving themselves up wholly
to their grief, they are no longer concerned about any earthly
possession, and often give away all that they have to the
first comers, even to their beds and their home. Finally, the
wailing for the dead is continued night and day to the point of
utter voicelessness; a musical, weird, and heart-piercing sound,