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Section of Ojibway. Grave at. "Twin Lakes" Forrest Co. [crossed out: Michigan] Wisconsin (Haupt del.)

The Ojibway bury their dead in the ground and upon the high plains in exposed situations along the banks of rivers in [? ] will be found small wooden structures resembling "dog kennels" these are the Ojibway graves. When the person dies the body is cleaned and wrapped in its robe and blankets and put in a rude box. in this box are the weapons and other things the soul will require. in the Happy Hunting ground. A pit is dug in the ground and the box or ciffin [sic] deposited with the feet to the east. the body being on its back. it is so placed that it can see the rising sun in the east.. Mr Warren states that the body is placed o that the face is to the west. alleging that this is done because of an ancient trdition that the Ojibway came from the west. and the body is placed so that he can look toward that country to which he as a people is striving to return. There is no proof of such a tradition. and the feet are never turned to the west we have asked a number of persons. and examined scores of graves and in no instance have we found a confirmation of Mr. Monroes statement.. Over the coffin. is placed a layer of birch bark. the edges trimmed down over the sides of the coffin to [?drain?] the moisture away from the coffin. Earth is then filled in to a depth of eighteen inches. and a second layer of birch bark is put on. then a second layer of earth of the same depth. and upon the surface of te ground is erected a pen of split staves of cedar. and held on the out side by pegs driven in the ground. this pen is about six or eight inches high and of the length and breadth of the coffin. The pen is filled with stones. and upon the stones is laid a thatch of split ceder strips. under the thatch is laid in this case. (no one now describes the grave at "Twin Lakes") the "[?] stick". Above the thatch is a roof of split boards. This was te grave of a child. and upon the breast of the corpse was laid a [?spear?]. In a grave of a child in Minnesota was a small cedar mat. a miniature canoe of birch bark with the paddle. and a small birch bark dish. all these intended to help the spirit on the long Journey. In the brave of an adult adjoining was a Totem stick "[?]" like the child. and an old Reed Mat. "[?Anaken?]".