PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 311 
SomE BuriaL CusTOMS. 
A chief at Molot having died, I went to visit the family. The 
body of the chief was placed in a sitting position in front of 
his house. He was painted and decked out with ornaments as 
if for war or some great festival occasion. Large quantities of 
diwara, beads, necklaces, and other kinds of native property 
were placed near him. His tomahawk, spears, and other wea- 
pons were also placed in his hand or by his side. Much of this 
property would be buried with him, but the large rolls of 
diwara and other valuable property were simply brought there 
as a mark of respect to the old man and his family. Before 
this property was taken away, an old chief broke portions from 
each of them, and allowed them to drop over the body, and 
some of them were afterwards burnt in the fire. The idea 
seemed to be that the spirit of this property would go with the 
old man’s spirit to the other world, and so he would be a 
wealthy man on arriving there. His legs and arms were all 
tied round with diwara. Some of this was simply an expres- 
sion of love from relatives, but there is a curious custom con- 
nected with this which deserves mention. A man wishing to 
have a piece of land for his own use takes advantage of a death 
like this, and brings diwara as an offering. This is tied round 
the legs or arms ‘of the dead chief, and the man making the, 
offering receives a piece of land for his own absolute use during 
his lifetime, but at his death the land reverts again to the 
family of the chief. The women had all their faces blackened. 
After the body was buried, his property was all divided out 
amongst the different people belonging to him. His wife also 
received a small share. 
Another custom is also observed in cases of death, but I am 
not aware that it is carried out always, but only in the case 
of those who are in some way or other connected with the Iniat 
Society. It is called a Weiog. When the man is dead, his 
friends first dig the grave, and surround it with a fence. This 
is called the Lagalaga. Then all gather together, and the 
Tenagagrara (masters of witcheraft), holding» ees in their 
hands for the spittle, throw a number of poisonous things into 
the grave, uttering at the same time loud imprecations that he 
who has caused the death should have dysentery, waste away, 
die from spear wounds, stones, or tomahawks. The name of 
this spell is called Winivien. Then all go and bathe, and 
another lot of the same class come holding wood in one hand 
and leaves in the other. They stamp together with their feet, 
all fall down to the ground, shut their eyes, stand up again, and 
then sing another cursing song or imprecation. This is called Tu- 
mar akabag. This is supposed to mean sudden death to the man 
who caused the death. Then this lot also go away and bathe. 
