Gabb.] ■i'J^ [Aug. 20, 



The custom of burying or otherwise placing with the dead all of his 

 valuables, evidently existed at one time with these people. The Tiribis, 

 who bury their dead, did so, up to within the memory of persons still 

 living, and all matters that could not be buried, like live stock, fruit trees, 

 &c., were ruthlessly destroyed. A more practical method has grown up 

 with the present generation, and they now divide the property of the de- 

 funct among the heirs, with as much avidity as in more enlightened com- 

 munities. So do the Bri-bris and Cabecars, but these compound with 

 their consciences. Whether the Teribis have a similar custom, I am not 

 prepared to say, not having seen a funeral, and having no information 

 that I consider sufificiently trustworthy. 



The next step after lighting the fire, was for the master of ceremonies, 

 appointed by mutual consent, to cause to be collected some small scrap- 

 ings of a peculiar wood, called Palo Cacique, by the Spaniards. It is a 

 wood used only for walking sticks, and will be again referred to in that 

 connection. He also obtained a large lump of cotton wool, some seeds of 

 a species of pumpkin, and a small root of sweet yucca. All the male friends 

 of the deceased present, seated themselves on low benches in a double 

 line, facing each other, with another bench between. A part of the cot- 

 ton, spread out so as to make a bulk about the size of a man's hand, was 

 placed in front of the principal pel son, who then began in a sing-song 

 tone between a recitation and a chant, to relate the merits and deeds of 

 their departed brother. As he proceeded, and mentioned for instance that 

 he had planted much corn, he laid carefully on the cotton a piece of shaving 

 which he said was the " planting stick " used in that operation. Another 

 laid aside of it a piece of pumpkin seed, which represented the corn. 

 Another taking up the song, related how he had shot fish, and another 

 shaving was the arrow. An impromptu string a couple of inches long, 

 twisted out of the cotton, and stained red with the powder from some 

 annatto seeds, was a rope with w^hich he had led a cow, bought years be- 

 fore in Terraba. This lasted for an hour, until every tool or weapon he 

 had ever used was represented by a little pile of seeds and shavings on 

 the cotton. But he was a great man and his "eagle " was not to be for- 

 gotten. A very rude imitation of it was cut out of the skin of the yucca 

 root and placed on top of all his other property, and then the edges of the 

 cotton were doubled over making all into a ball. This wis placed on his 

 breast, next his body, and he was thus armed and equipped with all he had 

 u.sed or owned in this world, ready for use in the other ; and his heirs 

 none the poorer. 



The body was then enveloped in the piece of *' mastate " or bark cloth 

 that he had used as a blanker, to^^ether with the hammock in which he 

 swung. A quantity of "platanillo " leaves, a leaf not unlike that of the 

 plantain, but only half the size and much tougher, were placed on the 

 ground, two or three deep.' The bundle was laid on this, the edges of the 

 leaf envelope, doubled over, and dexterously tied by strips of bark string 

 and the whole turned out a very respectable Egyptian mummy done iu 



