The Leopard Woman
THE LEOPARD WOMAN BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE Illustrated by W. H. D. Koerner 1916 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER
preparation of the body, have not joined the squaws in
chanting praises to the memory of the dead, and have not
even as mere spectators attended the funeral, yet they have
had their duties to perform. In conformity with a
long-established custom, all the personal property of the
deceased is immediately destroyed. His horses and his cattle
are shot, and his wigwam, furniture, &c., burned. The
performance of this part of the ceremonies is assigned to
the men; a duty quite in accord with their taste and
inclinations. Occasionally the destruction of horses and
other properly is of considerable magnitude, but usually
this is not the case, owing to a practice existing with them
of distributing their property among their children while
they are of a very tender age, retaining to themselves only
what is necessary to meet every-day requirements.
The widow "goes into mourning" by smearing her face with a
substance composed of pitch and charcoal. The application is
made but once, and is allowed to remain on until it wears
off. This is the only mourning observance of which I have
any knowledge.
The ceremonies observed on the death of a female are the
same as those in the case of a male, except that no
destruction of property takes place, and of course no
weapons are deposited with the corpse. Should a youth die
THE LEOPARD WOMAN BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE Illustrated by W. H. D. Koerner 1916 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER