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132
HISTORICAL   COLLECTIONS   OF   LOUISIANA.
of the Yasous or Yachoux, which I entered the 9th in the afternoon. It has not snowed here, as in the country of the Illinois, and at the river Ouabache, but there has fallen a hoar frost, which has broke
found and respectful homage. They believe in a future state, where the spirit exists, which they call the world of spirits, where they enjoy different degrees of tranquillity or comfort, agreeably to their life spent here : a person who in his life has been an industrious hunter, provided well for his family, an intrepid and active warrior, just, upright, and done all the good he could, will, they say, in the world of spirits, live in a warm pleasant country, where are expansive, green, flowery savannas and high forests, watered with rivers of pure waters, replenished with deer, and every species of game ; a serene, unclouded and peaceful sky ; in short, where there is fulness of pleasure uninterrupted.^. '
They have many accounts of trances and visions of their people, who have been supposed to be dead, but afterwards reviving, have related their visions, which tend to enforce the practice of virtue and the moral duties. 'y The youth of both sexes are fond of decorating themselves with external ornaments. The men shave their head, leaving only a narrow crest or comb, beginning at the crown of the head, where it is about two inches broad and about the same height, and stands frizzed upright; but this crest tending backwards, gradually widens, covering the hinder part of the head and back of the neck : the lank hair behind is ornamented with pendent silver quills, and then jointed or articulated silver plates ; and usually the middle fascicle of hair, being by far the longest, is wrapped in a large quill of silver, or the joint of a small reed, curiously sculptured and painted, the hair continuing through it terminates in a tail or tassel.
Their cars are lacerated, separating the border or cartilaginous limb, which at first is bound round very close and tight with leather strings or thongs, and anointed with fresh bear's oil, until healed : a piece of lead being fastened to it, by its weight extends this cartilage an incredible length, which afterwards being craped, or bound round in brass or silver wire, extends scmicircularly like a bow or crescent; and it is then very clastic, even so as to spring and bound about with the least motion or flexure of the body ; this is decorated with soft white plumes of heron feathers.
A very curious diadem or band, about four inches broad, and ingeniously wrought or woven, and curiously decorated with stones, beads, wampum, porcupine quills, &c, encircles their temples; the front peak of it being embellished witli a high waving plume of crane or heron feathers.
The clothing of their body is very simple and frugal. Sometimes a ruffled shirt of fine linen, next the skin, and a flap, which covers their lower parts : this garment somewhat resembles the ancient Roman breeches, or the kilt of the Highlanders ; it usually consists of a piece of blue cloth, about eighteen inches wide ; this they pass between their thighs, and both ends being taken up and drawn through a belt round their waist, the ends fall down, one before and the other behind, not quite to the knee ; this flap is usually plaited and indented at the ends, and ornamented with beads, tinsel lace, &c.
The leg is furnished with cloth boots ; they reach from the ancle to the calf, and are ornamented with lace, beads, silver bolls, &c.
The stillepica or moccasin defends and adorns the feet ; it seems to bo an