^ Anthropology : Social 



done, a very tight mass of earth secures the grave from being 

 easily rifled. 



The Kru people generally put an empty bowl on the top 

 of each grave, into which from time to time are poured 

 libations of palm wine or trade gin, or handfuls of cooked rice 

 are put in it. The Vai peoples often mark the graves with 

 a stick, to which is tied a wisp of cloth, possibly an imitation 

 ot the Moslem system ot planting flags or standards over the 

 grave. 



As a sign of mourning in many parts of this country rings 

 of dried grass or of palm bark are worn on the fingers, or round 

 the forehead, or as a neckband. The body, especially with the 

 women, is often painted more or less hideously with indigo or 

 some dark green dye, varied with the grey ot wood ash or the 

 white of kaolin. In some tribes the hair is allowed to grow 

 untended and undressed, or on the other hand men and women 

 will shave as a sign of mourning. In the Sikombe country after 

 a death the relatives of the deceased are not allowed by custom 

 to eat rice already garnered. They must wait until the new 

 crop of rice is harvested, and in the interval live on manioc 

 or any other vegetable food. Also a few weeks after the death 

 of any person of importance a great assemblage is heki of all 

 the relations and friends, and a feast takes place, to which 

 each guest contributes a quota. These feasts are followed 

 by drinking bouts (except amongst the Muhammadans) and 

 dancing. 



I have already stated that there is a vague but sincere 

 belief in existence after death. As amongst the Bantu in 

 Eastern Africa, the duration of this existence no doubt is 

 considered to depend a great deal on the importance ot the 

 person when alive. Perhaps it is rather this way, that an 

 individual spirit may only be considered to linger in another 



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