1875.] ^*J*^ [Gabb. 



green. By means of three strings, this was swung under a pole, ten feet 

 long, raised on the shoulders of two men, who trotted off unconcernedly 

 to the woods a mile or so distant. They were accompanied by two or 

 three more, armed with machetes. 



A little boy whom I had for a servant for a few months, died on one of 

 my journeys. We watched by him and did all in our power to save him, 

 and were assisted by two of our men, one of whom was an ^'atoa'^ or 

 doctor. As soon as we saw that he was dying, and I had given up the 

 last hope, the aica took charge. He motioned us all off. Fi"om that mo- 

 ment the moribund becomes unclean and only the awa can touch him. 

 As soon as we pronounced him dead, the doctor covered him up. Next 

 morning, the death taking place about midnight, without ceremony he 

 was bundled up in his blanket and the usual leaves, and carried off in the 

 same manner to the bush. But he was of no consequence. Only a boy 

 who was nobody and had done nothing. I mention this case to show the 

 difference in treatment, according to the jDerson. 



Next to a woman in her filrst pregnancy, the most bu-ku-ru' (unclean) 

 thing is a corpse. An animal that passes near one after it is placed in its 

 temporary resting-place, is defiled forever, and must be killed, as unfit for 

 food. Accordingly, an unfrequented spot is selected, where tame pigs or 

 cattle never go. Here a low bench is made of straight sticks, about the 

 size of a coflin, raised a foot or two from, the ground ; it is carefully fenced 

 in ; the corpse is laid on it, and the whole is then covered with another 

 horizontal layer, making a sort of box, carefully bound together with 

 vines. Over all, a pile of branches and brush-wood is thrown so that 

 buzzards and other carrion-eating animals cannot obtain access to the 

 body. The body remains here about a year, to allow complete decompo- 

 sition. 



In the meantime, the family, or next of kin, on whom devolves the re- 

 sponsibility, proceeds to secure a sufficient number of animals, pigs, or 

 beeves, according to the importance of the defunct. He also plants a 

 corn-field, to supply the material for the chicha. About- a year, more or 

 less, after the death, one or more priests ai'e engaged. Generally one is 

 sought and he selects his assistants. For an ordinary person, one is suf- 

 ficient ; while for a chief, or person of distinction half-a-dozen are hardly 

 enough. The chief fixes the time when he will be ready. Another offi- 

 cial, a steward, called Bi-ka'-kra is also engaged. This latter personage 

 takes entire charge as commissary and master of ceremonies. Under his 

 direction, the corn is ground for the chicha. The number of bunches of 

 plantains that he orders, is obtained ; the animals are killed and cook ed 

 as he directs ; and the food and drink are served to whom, and in what 

 quantities he designates. The host resigns all to him and becomes thence- 

 forth merely a guest, until all is over. 



When the day approaches, a party goes to the place where the body 

 was deposited. One person, set apart for similar unclean work, opens 

 the package, cleans and re-arranges the bones and does them all up in a 

 A. p, s. — VOL. XIV. 3m 



