academy of sciences] DOMESTIC LIFE: MEDICINE, SICKNESS, AND DEATH 125 



to be placed over the grave, while others do the excavating. Sometimes a fence is erected around 

 the burying ground. The work always proceeds in absolute silence, and a fire is always kept 

 burning as a menace to the evil spirits. When all is ready, the coffin is laid in its resting place 

 and covered in all haste. Here it may be remarked with regard to the orientation of the corpse, 

 that men are buried with their feet toward the east and women with their feet toward the west. 

 Then the little roof is set upon four supports about 45 centimeters above the grave. One of 

 those present, sometimes a priest, lays a plate with seven offerings of betel nut upon the grave. 

 Then an earthen pot 36 with its collation of boiled rice " and with a hole broken in the bottom 

 of it is hung up under the roof. 



As explained to me, rice is intended as a last refection for the departed one before he sets 

 out on his journey to the land of Ibu. The hole that is invariably made in the bottom is intended, 

 so I was told by many, to facilitate the consumption of the rice. The family heirlooms are 

 occasionally brought to the grave but are not left there. 



There is a common tradition to the effect that the ancient mode of sepulture was a more 

 pompous and solemn affair than the present one. I was told that the deceased was buried with 

 all his personal arms, except his lance and shield, which were laid over his grave. Sacred jars M 

 were also left. I never have been able to get sufficient information as to the exact whereabouts 

 of the old burial grounds. The cave of Tinago near Taganaan, about 12 miles south of Surigao, 

 is easily accessible. The Bisayas of the town state that it was a burial place for the ancient 

 Bisayas, but Montano, who procured some skulls from this cave, pronounced it to be a Manobo 

 cemetery. The fact is, however, that up to this day the townspeople repair to the cave on 

 occasions and invoke their ancestors. I was told of one gambler who used to go there and burn 

 a candle in order to increase his luck. 



The mourners carefully efface the footprints that have been made by them on the loose 

 clay around the grave and, scurrying away sadly and silently, leave the dead one in the company 

 of the spirits of darkness. Henceforth this, the resting place of one who was beloved in life, 

 possibly of a loving wife, or of a darling child, will be eschewed as a place of terror where stalk 

 with silent footfall and dark-visaged face the foul and insatiate soul ghouls. 



On arriving at the house whence they started, the funeral party invariably find a vessel, 

 usually a coconut-shell cup, containing a mixture of water and herbs, 39 placed at the door of 

 the house. Each one in turn wets his hands and purifies himself by rubbing the water on some 

 portion of his body. I never saw this process omitted. The explanation afforded me was that 

 the water had a purificatory w effect in removing the evil influence to which they had become 

 susceptible by contact with the dead. After the burial, a little repast is set out by way of com- 

 pensation for those who assisted at the burial, and then begins the time of mourning which 

 ends only with the mortuary feast. 



CERTAIN MOURNING TABOOS ARE OBSERVED 



(1) Black must be worn by the nearest relatives. 



(2) For seven days the wife and nearest relatives must remain confined to the house. 



(3) The house must be abandoned or the inmates must change their sleeping quarters to another part 

 of the house. 



(4) No marriage can be celebrated by any of the carnal relatives until the death feast has been celebrated. 



(5) The deceased must not be mentioned by name, but spoken of as "my father" or "my cousin" or other 

 relative. This taboo holds indefinitely. 



(6) No work must be undertaken nor business of any importance transacted, by the nearer relatives, for 

 seven days. 



(7) No one other than a near relative may visit the house for seven days after the decease. 



38 K6-don. w I was told that u-ti'U-ti grass is always used as an ingredient. 



" Imported rice can not be used. " Pan-iHuu. 



»■ Ba-hin-di. 



