EFATE, NEW HEBRIDES. 727 



AVlien life is extinct there is a loiio- continued wailing-. The 

 body is washed, anointed with oil, and cai-efnlly dressed. 

 Nesei (l)right scented) leaves are hxed in his girdle, and a 

 crown of feathers fixed on the top of his head. The girdle 

 is called " the girdle of the nalialnagar Friends in the 

 village are then at liberty to come and put presents of cloth 

 on the body ; these are presents from them to their deceased 

 relatives in the world of shades that he is about to visit. 

 When he reaches Hades each will know the present that is 

 his and strip it off him, leaving him at last with only his own 

 nafona naJiainaga. Then all who wish approach the corpse 

 and attach a neluJw (rope for tying a ]iig) to the fingers of 

 the dead. Each neluko represents a pig about to be killed, 

 the spirits of which offerings he will take with him to Hades. 

 In the middle of the wailing some women (near relatives) 

 cover themselves, with ashes, or take shells and scrape the 

 skin off their cheeks and temples. They wrap themselves in 

 filthy old mats for clothes. The chief mourners Idackeu their 

 faces. 



In case of a chief, his atafi (successor) leads a few men to 

 dig the grave ; while this is being done, a dead and fearful 

 silence is maintained in the village. To the sound of the big 

 drums (napeas), the body is carried out and lowered into the 

 grave ; this done, a pig is killed. After the grave is filled 

 up the hall (digging-stick) is carried six (orsomeev*?^ number 

 of times, according to some) times round the mound, and then 

 carried to the sea, all keeping out of the way of its carrier, 

 into which it is thrown. A stone is set up at the head of 

 the grave. Such a grave is called zahkes in Efate. It is 

 sacred. On Mai on the fifth day the karan (cutting instru- 

 ment) used in digging the grave is taken to the sea, all the 

 community assembling there. After it is thrown in the sea, 

 all bathe. Then the sea shore for a mile or two is pronounced 

 " tabu," and no fishing or bathing allowed in it. The chief 

 mourners up to this time have remained in the house. Feasts 

 are held every fifth day up to the hundredth day, when a 

 great feast is held, and after that the intamate is to be prepared 

 for perhaps two or three years, during which a napea has to be 

 cut down (a big log), hauled to the village maid, hollow^ed out, 

 the face of the dead carved upon it, set up in the malel, and a 

 series of festivals (feasting, dancing, singing) held. On Efate 

 the chief mourners remained in the house thirty days ; on 

 the conclusion of the intamate the napog, that is, insignia 

 of the chief, is buried in his grave. On Mai they buried 



