82 NANKAURI 



leaf head-dress, but it was given up when imported garments 

 became common. 



A custom of partially exhuming the bodies of the dead exists 

 here, and whenever celebrated is the occasion of a special feast 

 {Korudk). In the Northern Islands the entire remains are dis- 

 interred, carefully cleaned, wrapped up once more, and reburied ; 

 here, the skull and jawbone only are retained. 



The local population greatly deprecates the method of their 

 northern countrymen. 



It would appear, by the way, that the present custom is no 

 degradation of the past, for more than a century ago the head 

 only was disinterred and cleansed. 



" On the anniversary of the festival — if it can be so called — 

 their houses are decorated with garlands of flowers, fruit, and 

 branches of trees. The people of each village assemble, dressed 

 in their best attire, at the principal house in the place, where 

 they spend the day in a convivial manner. The men sitting 

 apart from the women, smoke tobacco and intoxicate them- 

 selves, while the latter are nursing the children, and employed 

 in preparation for the mournful business of the night. At 

 a certain hour of the afternoon, announced by striking the 

 goung (an instrument of brass somewhat like the gurry of 

 Bengal — it sounds more hollow), the women set up the most 

 dismal howls and lamentations, which they continue without 

 intermission till about sunset, when the whole party gets up 

 and walks in procession to the burying - ground. Arrived at 

 the place, they form a circle round one of the graves, when a 

 stake, planted exactly over the head of a corpse, is pulled up. 

 The woman who is nearest of kin to the deceased steps out 

 from the crowd, digs up the skull and draws it up in her hands, 

 (The office is always performed by the women, whichever sex 

 the skull belongs to. A man in a fantastic garb officiates as 

 priest.) At sight of the bones her strength seems to fail her; 

 she shrieks, she sobs, and tears of anguish abundantly fall on 

 the mouldering object of her pious care. She cleans it from 

 the earth, scrapes off the festering flesh, and laves it plentifully 

 with the milk of fresh coconuts, supplied by the bystanders ; 

 after which, she rubs it over with an infusion of saffi"on, and 



