﻿OF TIPRA. I93 



dry it : when it is perfectly dried, they cover it with 

 two or 'hree folds of cloth ; and, enclosing it in a 

 little cafe within a chest, bury it under ground. All 

 the fruits and flowers that they gather within a year 

 after the burial, they scatter on the grave of the de- 

 ceased ; but fome bury their de-id in a different 

 manner, covering them first with a shroud, then 

 with a mat of woven reeds, and hanging them on a 

 high tree. Some, when the flesh is decayed, wash 

 the bones, and keep them dry in a bowl, which ihey 

 open on every sudden emergence ; and fancying 

 themselves at a consultation with the bones, purfue 

 whatever measures they think proper, alledging, that 

 they act by the command of their departed parents 

 and kinsmen. A widow is obliged to remain a whole 

 year near the grave of her husband, where her family 

 bring her food : if she die within the year, they 

 mourn for her; if she Lve, they carry her back to 

 her house, where all her relations are entertained with 

 the usual feast of the Cuci, 



If the deceased leave three sons, the eldest and the 

 youngest share all his property, but the middle son 

 takes nothing : if he have no sons, his estate goes to 

 his brothers ; and if he have no brothers, it escheats 

 to the chief of the tribe. 



NOTE. 



A party of Cuci visited the late Charles Croftes, 

 Esq. at Jafarabad'm the spring of 1776, and enter- 

 tained him with a dance : they promised to return 

 after their harvest, a id seemed much pleased with 

 their reception. 



Vol. II. 



