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390 and 40 penciled at top of page

Mourning for the dead etc When the deceased was a husband, the widow continued long in a single state; and for ten months let her hair go loose without dressing or taking any particular care of it. She did not wash, nor seem to pay any attention to herself, but wore her clothes thrown carelessly over her (see Bro Antiq. vol. 2. P. 352.) Among the Creeks, when a husband dies, the widow must remain in a state of mourning four months. During this time she neither combs her hair, nor anoints it, - neither washes her face, or her apparel. At the end of four months her former husbands brother, or if he has no brother, his nighest kinsman, may marry her, but no other. This is done in the following manner. - The brother or nearest kinsman of the deceased notifies his mother, or sister, or nighest female relatives, and they take a new suit of clothes, and go to the widow, - comb her hair, - change her dress, and take her to the Town house and deliver her to the man who is to be her husband. This is followed by a public dance to confirm the union. Nearly the same rules are to be observed by the man when his wife dies. he mourns four months, without dressing his hair, - washing or painting his face, or changing his clothes. At the end of four months he may