638 Report on Shoa [No. 140. 



of rank, and all wealthy commoners who have not, during life, worked 

 in wood, iron or precious metals, are covered in the grave with the 

 green branches of juniper ; but smiths and artificers being looked upon 

 as sorcerers, every care is taken to keep them under the ground 

 when once deposited; great stones being heaped over the body, and 

 the earth well secured and trampled afterwards under foot. 



43. The funeral of an individual of reputed sanctity is attended by 

 numbers of the priesthood with the great umbrellas of the Church, 

 wherein the corpse is placed for a time, and surrounded by twelve lighted 

 tapers betokening purity of life, which when nearly consumed are, 

 lowered with the bier into the sepulchre. Ecclesiastics occasionally 

 enjoy the privilege of a last resting place within the precincts of the 

 sacred edifice ; the pall consisting of a piece of printed Surat chintz is 

 supported by six bearers, who wave it alternately with a fanning motion' 

 whilst a numerous train of mourners follow amidst loud wails, with 

 their hands clasped behind the neck, in token of the triumph obtained 

 by death over sin. 



44. During forty days, requiems are daily chaunted for the soul of 

 the departed, and charity in proportion to the estate left, is distributed 

 both on the day of interment and on several succeeding anniversaries. 

 Oxen and sheep are freely slaughtered at the tes-car, or funeral feast, and 

 all who choose to attend receive their portion in honor of the deceased. 



45. Black or yellow garments, or ordinary dresses steeped in mire 

 are worn indiscriminately as weeds — the period of mourning extending 

 to one year ; and on the death of a friend or relative, male or female, 

 both sexes scarify the temples by removing a circular piece of skin, 

 about the size of a sixpence from each, with the nail of the little finger, 

 which is purposely suffered to grow like an eagle's talon. This custom, 

 borrowed like many others from Judaism, is generally practised through- 

 out the kingdom ; scarcely an individual being free from the disfiguring 

 scars, although in opposition to a royal interdiction, which was pro- 

 claimed throughout Shoa, in consequence of an ecclesiastical remon- 

 strance to the throne, representing the custom to be in direct violation of 

 the written law : " Thou sbalt not cut thy face for the sake of the 

 dead." 



46. Although three military expeditions are undertaken every year, 

 the nation is by no means either a martial or a chivalrous one. Few 



