242 BURIAL RITES. 



sprinkle frankincense upon the coals, and spread them all 

 about. This being done, the chief, or eldest of the family, 

 goes close to the entrance of the burying-place, and halloo? 

 aloud several times ; after a short pause he calls upon all the 

 dead that are there deposited, commencing at the eldest and 

 proceeding to the last, and each one distinctly by his name, 

 and in the conclusion tells them that there is a relation come 

 to lie amongst them, and that he hopes they will receive him 

 as a friend. Then the gate is opened, and two or three per- 

 sons are sent in to dig the grave, which is made, for the 

 generality, seven or eight feet deep ; and the corpse is placed 

 in it, and covered over with earth without any further 

 ceremony. None are permitted to enter here but some of the 

 nearest relations and the bearers, and the door is immediately 

 shut fast again. They generally visit this burying-place once 

 a year to clear it from weeds and make it clean, but never 

 enter it until they have first burnt a cow or a bullock before 

 it." (Pages 225-227, edition of 1807.) 



