256 On the Funeral Ceremonies of the ancient Hindus. [No. 4, 



morning following the ninth, night after death, i. e., on the tenth 

 day. This is an addition to the shaving and paring of nails and 

 bathing, which are enjoined by mediaeval and modern Smritikaras, 

 and are still current. As'valayana recommends that this should be 

 performed on the burning- ground on the 15th of the wane, i. e., on 

 the day of the new moon. But our text fixes the day, and leaves it 

 optional with the mourners to select any place out of a town, 

 whether it be a burning ground or not, that may be convenient. The 

 relatives by blood both male and female, having assembled, a fire 

 should be Kghted, and they should be requested to sit down on a 

 bullock-hide of a red colour spread on the ground, with its neck-side 

 facing the east, and its hairs directed towards the north. The re- 

 quest should be made in the following words : " Ascend on this Hfe- 

 giving (skin), as you wish to live to a decrepit old age. According 

 to your seniority attempt carefully to abide on it. May the well- 

 born and well-adorned fire of this ceremony bestow long Hfe on 

 you. Even as days follow days, and seasons are attached to seasons - 

 even as the young forsake not their elders, may Dhata, so prolong 

 the life of these (people) according to their age."* The assembly 

 being thereupon seated, the chief mourner offers four oblations to 

 the fire with a spoon made of varuna wood. The relatives 

 then rise up, and placing themselves on the north of the fire, 

 and facing the east, recite a mantra, while touching a red bull. 

 The women are then requested to put on collyrium with these 

 words — "Let these women, who are not widowed, who have good 

 husbands, apply the collyrious butter to their eyes ; without tears, 

 without disease, worthy of every attention, let these wives enter the 

 house."f ^ ne collyrium should be made of a substance called traika- 

 Icuda which is brought from the Trikakut or triple humped peak of 

 the Himalaya, meaning evidently the sulphuret of antimony or sur- 



