FUNERAL CUSTOMS OF KATINGANS 361 



stantly for seven days, and they wear no red garments 

 until after the tiwah feast which constitutes his second 

 funeral. The coffin is buried in the ground or placed on a 

 crude platform, and, when this work is finished, thorough 

 ablution in water containing leaves which possess qualities 

 especially adapted to this purpose is the rule for everybody 

 concerned. This is done to the end that no odour of the 

 dead shall linger, thus exposing the living to danger from 

 the bad antoh that is responsible for the unfortunate 

 event which necessitated their recent activities. Later, 

 all partake of tuak, including the children. 



After this preliminary disposal of the body the family 

 begins to plan for the second and final funeral, which is 

 considered a compensation to the departed soul for the 

 property he left behind. Caution demands that they be 

 very punctilious about this, for the ghost, though believed 

 to be far above this plane, is thought to be resentful, with 

 power to cause misfortunes of various kinds and therefore 

 is feared. Until recently, when a man of means died, a 

 slave had to be killed and his head placed on top of the 

 coffin. When time for the second funeral, the tiwah, 

 came round another slave was killed and his head hung 

 near by. They are his attendants in the next life, but 

 many more and elaborate arrangements are necessary to 

 satisfy the demands of the liao, and they must be fully 

 complied with on the celebration of the tiwah, the most 

 elaborate of all feasts in Borneo. 



When the deceased is well-to-do this observance may 

 follow immediately, but usually years go by and many 

 liaoes are served at the same time. On the great occa- 



