DEATH CEREMONIES OF THE SONCxHO 101 



draped in vines and carrying sprigs of leaves, 

 how the witch doctor sacrificed a goat before the 

 dead Chief's house, and after mixing its blood with 

 palm wine in a boiling pot, commenced to incaiit 

 amid the smoke of the fire. Working himself into 

 a frenzy, he rushed into the hut where the dead 

 body lay, and soon after spoke, as if with the voice 

 of the dead man, who thanked the people for their 

 remembrance of him. The hair of the late Chief, 

 with the nails of his fingers and toes, were then 

 distributed among the people. 



The arms of the corpse were so placed that the 

 hands rested one on each side of the face, with the 

 thumbs under the chin, and the little fingers near 

 the eyes ; the knees were drawn up, and on the 

 body were placed charms and fetishes. The body 

 was wrapped in blue cloth, placed in a net 

 hammock, and carried to the grave, amid a pro- 

 cession of his people, some of whom carried spears 

 and others garlands of leaves ; while the chief 

 mourners wept loudly, and the drummers beat a 

 slow march on draped drums. The dead Chief's 

 widows, who had washed themselves in a stream 

 into which a pig's head had been thrown, followed 

 the bier amid many other women. 



After the body had been laid in the grave, the 

 people ran round shouting and throwing mud and 

 stones into it until filled, and a mound had been 

 formed, on w r hich was placed the Chief's hat of 

 office. This done, the drums were undraped and 

 the procession marched back to gay tunes and 

 dances, to feast, drink, sing, and dance all night. 



At midday the next day the people came 



