lOO Slielh OS evidence of the Miorat!07is. 



luck to them." The\- further remark : " Some fine okl 

 specimens of marquetry in whicli these [pearl] shells were 

 used exists in the lUiddhist temples at Bangkok. This art 

 of inlaying is almost lost to-day among the Siamese, and 

 there is said to be onK' one man in the king's palace who 

 can lay an}' claims to proficiency in working mother-of- 

 jjearl shell." 



In China during the I Ian d)-nasty, De Groot informs 

 us/'- " [learls also occui)ied a place among the objects 

 which were introduced into the mouth of the dead. At 

 least it is stated in the funeral ritual for the Sovereigns of 

 this house that ' their mouths were filled with rice, and 

 pearls and jade stone were put therein, in accordance with 

 the established ceremotu'al usages.' And the ' Toh hu 

 thung i," a well-known work professedly written in the 

 first century, says : 'On stuffing the mouth of the Son of 

 Heaven with rice, they put jade therein ; in the case of a 

 feudal lord they introduce pearls, in that of a Great officer 

 and so downwards, as also in that of ordinar}- officials, 

 cowries are used to this end.'" 



The free u.se of pearls and other precious objects in 

 connection with the ritual of the dead, is said to be founded 

 on a desire to procure light for the soul, that it ma}- be 

 conducted safely along its paths in the dark be}-ond. J^ut 

 the chief object of this practice, it would appear, is to save 

 the body from a speed}' deca}'."*' 



The custom of i)Iacing articles of value in the mouth 

 of the dead is analogous to similar practices widel}- 

 prevalent in other parts of the world. It is well known to 

 have obtained among the Greeks, the Romans, the Hindus 

 and the ancient Mexican emperors.'"' 



^- 1)l- (iio(,l, "The Kcligious System of China," Ltyden. KS92, vol. i., 



-■■' Jhid., p. 27S. |On Uiis fjucstion, liinvever, see the Introc'uctidn to 

 the present l)ook|. 



"■* J hid., p. 279, footnote. 



