298 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. xi 



for some seven or eight bodies. Into the grave are thrown 

 sarongs and other clothing, earthen pots containing food, 

 a coco-nut shell containing sagoweer wine, an umbrella and 

 other articles that may be useful to the deceased in the 

 future life. In olden times one or more human heads 

 were frequently thrown in with the body, the former owners 

 of them being then compelled to serve the deceased for ever 

 in the abodes of bliss. 



In the course of the funeral ceremony the priests have 

 many duties to perform. They must recount the genealogy 

 and trace the descent from the goddess Lumimuiit ; they 

 must pray to the gods to receive the spirit into the abodes 

 of bliss, and drive it away from the abodes of the living. 



The night is spent in gruesome dances and mournful 

 feasts to invoke the blessings of the gods on the departed 

 spirit and to persuade them speedily to send a new mate for 

 the bereaved man or woman. 



There are many customs following the decease of a friend 

 or relative in Minahassa which might be classified under 

 ' mourning customs,' but it must be borne in mind that in 

 origin at least they are not expressive of grief or sorrow at 

 the loss which has occurred. 



In some districts at least the relatives of the deceased 

 rub one another's faces with charcoal so as to make them 

 quite black. This is called Mahawuwuringan (22). It is 

 not, as one might expect, a solemn farce, but is accompanied 

 by roars of laughter and considerable fun and merriment. 

 Soon after this they go down to the river to bathe — a cere- 

 mony which is called Mahapasoosoh (22) . 



In olden times, too, the women wore their hair loose and 

 unkempt for some days after the funeral. 



The wearing of mourning clothes was not unknown in 

 Minahassa in heathen days. The prevailing colour was 

 black. In the neighbouring kingdom of Bolang Mongondu. 



