1834.] of Naning, in the Malay an Peiiinsula. 613 



Kkatib, before two witnesses on each part, and a Waked or agent on 

 part of the bride, who is not present, but remains at home. Thither 

 the Wakeel and two witnesses go to ask her consent as a matter of form : 

 the ceremony is then performed agreeably to the Muhammedan law. 



The husband can then, if his wife have attained the age of puberty, 

 carry her to his own house ; if not, she remains in her father's house 

 until the desirable event take place. 



When the parties are wealthy, a buffalo is killed, and the friends of 

 both parties feasted. The two inferior kinds of marriage common in 

 Java, and self-prostitution, are rare in Naning, though instances have 

 been known of husbands prostituting their own wives and children 

 when pressed by debt or poverty. 



Women about to be married cut off the hair (this ceremony is called 

 " Andam") in front of the forehead. This is done, as well as the 

 application of the " Inei" or " Henna" to the palms, and nails of the 

 hands and feet, three days before the marriage ceremony. 



Of the ceremonials after death the following may be noticed : 



If the dying person has possession of his faculties, he recites or has 

 recited to him the &$&.£ Touhid, a form of confession of the Unity of 

 the Deity. 



After death, the Imam performs ^ jJm Mandi and a£ Kafan, or 

 the washing and shrouding of the corpse ; for this latter purpose, a long 

 wrapper of cotton cloth, the deceased's baju, vest, and turban, and two 

 hiffafehs are used ; the grave is invariably dug the depth of a man's ear. 



The Mussalmans of India make a distinction in digging it : for a 

 man, the depth of the navel ; for a woman, up to the breast. 



The corpse is then placed on a bier formed of two planks, the exact 

 length of the grave, to which it is carried, followed by the nearest 

 relatives; females sometimes attend in Naning, but never at Malacca. 



The % rlxa* %JLo Selat Jendzeh is then read by the Imam, standing : 

 the corpse is lowered down into the grave, with the two planks that 

 composed the bier. 



It is not deposited on the direct bottom of the grave, but in a side 

 receptacle about two feet high, the two planks are then forced down 

 edgeways, so as to shut out firmly this receptacle from the rest of the 

 cavity, which is then filled up by earth thrown through some green 

 Jeaves and branches, in order that it may fall more lightly, till the 

 upper edge of the plank is concealed, when earth is thrown in, and 

 the grave filled up in the usual manner : a little water is then sprink- 

 led, and the Bilal or Panghulu Momkin recites the ,jJLL> Talkin on 

 the grave, in a sitting posture, with his face turned toward the Kibleh* 

 in the direction of which also the head of the corpse is inclined. 



On the third, the seventh, the fourteenth, the fortieth, and last,- 



