FL661597

of green wood cut for the purpose, were
laid & fitted in to make all secure. Two
or three layers of wood & then a sheet of bark
on the top made the grave level with
the ground. A mound of earth was after-
wards raised on it at least 6 or 7 feet
high. But before they began to
heap up the earth, the women were
ordered to leave. They - about 20 of them,
took their departure with a howling
cry of a most melancholy sound. My Black
boys too were ordered to go & to me likewise
intimations were given not to stay any longer.
I hesitated for some time as I was anxious
to see the end of the scene & continued to watch
with the boys at a distance, but could not
observe any thing particular going on, except
a thick cloud of smoke ascending. As far
as I coud learn nothing further took place
with the exception of a biter cry & lamentation
to which the men gave vent after we were out of
hearing. In the evening & the next day the women
having their heads coveed with mud & their faces
painted with pipe-caly visited every spot in our
neighbourhood even close up to our doors where