166 OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
\ 
men, who select a lucky day and hour ; at the head march men 
with wands to scare off prowling devils. Then in the midst of 
some of the objects mentioned above comes the “dead man’s 
house,” a sort of bamboo cage. The children and the nearest 
relations follow the bier. In passing the threshold of the door 
the coffin has been carried over their prostrate bodies. In the 
middle march a body of inoniss chanting a noisy but rhythmical - 
requiem. Sham gold and silver leaf is scattered all along the 
road to soothe the Co-nox—the abandoned spirits. These are 
the souls of people who have died violent deaths, and have had 
no rites of sepulture. Their relations have not known of their 
fate, and have been unable or unwilling to perform the cere- 
nonies which custom prescribes for the delivery of their souls. 
‘Therefore the Co-non remain wanderers on the face of the 
earth, irritated with the living, and tormenting and oppressing 
them in every way. They trouble the sacrifices, upset the 
prognostics, and annihilate the efforts cf domestic piety. ‘Tne 
superstiticus, therefore, are driven to all sor ae of devices to ap- 
pease and deceive these evil-minded demons. The Co-non 
are attracted by the glitter of the false “gala and silver leaf 
halt to lay hands on it, ‘and, before ce discover the deception, 
Have lost the opportunity of spoiling the funeral ceremony. 
There are others, however, who are more considerate, or more 
fearful of the wrath of these Homeless spirits. They burn 
regular Nair-NHitT-ponG-pona—‘“‘ numerous pieces of money.” 
‘These are strips of paper with coins printed on them, regular 
postal orders on the lower world for the support of indigent 
devils, Naturally the funerals so protected are the sater for 
the deceased. 
There are no public cemeteries in Annam. ‘The grave is 
usualiy dug anywhere out in the middle of the fields belonging 
to the family. The rich usually have a special place for their 
own relations, and sometimes assign a patch for their poorer 
neighbours. Otherwise these must be buried by the roadside 
Cr 12 some part of the villace common EROS a the grave 
Li 4 
ae coffin is lowered in, a banneret of silk or paper giving 10 
vhite and yellow characters deceased’s: ni nes age, dignities,” 
position in fa mily, and virtues, is. thrown upon it, and then a 
small pile of the ‘above-mentioned m¢ mey paper. ‘bach friend 
