BURIAL, OF THE DEAD. 153 



these skulls in their arms and lie down talking as if to a living 

 child, until they fall asleep. 



The Sioux, of whom we hear so much, wrap their dead in 

 skins and lodge in the branches of trees ; never forgetting to 

 place a wooden dish near the head, that the friend may quench 

 his thirst in the long journey he is supposed to have begun. 



Among the Patagonians the dead are frequently reduced to 

 skeletons before burial, and are washed and arrayed in new 

 clothing once a year. The bodies, while being prepared, are 

 laid on platforms and guarded by the relatives, who, dressed 

 in long robes, strike the ground continually with spears or 

 staves, and keep up a mournful song to drive away the spirits, 

 who they fear are unfriendly to the dead. 



The Dahomans, with all their cruelty and carelessness of 

 human life, always hold an inquest over the dead, because, per- 

 haps, the king reserves it as his privilege to do all the killing. 

 If the inquest finds the man to have died a naturaL death, his 

 friends are allowed to begin their mourning, during which they 

 may not wash, but may eat and drink to intemperance if they 

 please. When the coffin is ready the body is clothed in the best 

 attire and furnished with a complete outfit for a change when 

 he reaches the spirit land, and the burial takes place. 



The Bechuanas, among whom Livingstone spent the earlier 

 years in Africa, begin the funeral service before death has really 

 occurred. As soon as the relatives of a sick man are satisfied 

 that his end is near they throw a mat or skin over him, and 

 draw it together until the poor creature is forced into a crouch- 

 ing posture, with the arms bent, the head bowed and the chin 

 upon the knees. In this agonizing position the last spark of 

 life is allowed to expire. The body is then borne to the cattle- 

 pen, where the grave is waiting, and deposited in a sitting pos- 

 ture, exactly facing the north. The next operation is to pack 

 the finest clay tightly and carefully about the body, until the 

 earth reaches the mouth ; then a few pieces of acacia and some 

 roots of grass are placed on the head, so that a few green twigs 

 may be above the ground. The slight mound is then raised, 

 and when completed a few bowlfuls of water are poured over it, 

 while the spectators shout as if applauding. The last scene at 

 the grave is the women pouring out their bitter lamentations. 



