BURYING THE DEAD. 223 



wedge-shaped piece of the two centre teeth in the upper jaw, 

 and at a later period they extract entirely from the lower 

 two or three teeth. The first operation is usually performed 

 by means of a piece of iron, a flint, or simply a stone. 



The Damaras bury their dead. Immediately after disso- 

 lution, the back bone of the corpse is broken with a stone,* 

 and it is then bent together with the chin resting on the 

 knees. Afterward it is wrapped in ox-hides, and deposited 

 in a hole in the ground dug for the purpose, care being taken 

 to place the face toward the north. This is done, they say, 

 to remind them (the natives) whence they originally came. 

 The Bechuana mode of disposing of the dead is very similar. 



Upon the death of one of the tribe, the whole population 

 of the place assemble to deplore the event. The bowlings 

 and lamentations on such occasions are most discordant and 

 dreadful. Tears are considered favorable signs, and the more 

 plentifully they fall on the corpse the better. Two months 

 is the usual period for a son to mourn his father, but the 

 time is modified according to circumstances. The wealthier 

 the deceased, the greater the outward signs of sorrow — a 

 kind of feeling which, at any rate, bears some approximation 

 to that of civilized life. During the season of mourning, the 

 mourner wears a dark-colored skin cap, conically shaped on 

 the top, ^vith certain ornaments afiixed to it. Round the 

 neck is suspended a " riem," to the two extremities of which 

 is attached a small piece of ostrich egg-shell. In case of 

 the death of a valued friend, the adults will occasionally 

 shave the head completely, and keep it in that state for years. 



When a woman in reduced circumstances dies and leaves 

 a child, it is not unfrequently buried alive with its mother. 

 ]\ir. Rath was once fortunate enough to be the means of 



* I am told that this is not unfrequently done before Hfe is quite 

 extinct ! It is moreover affirmed, that when the sick man begins to 

 breathe hard a skin is immediately thrown over his face, which, no 

 doubt, often causes premature death. 



