1870.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 163 



of water was left at the liead of the grave, in case the spirit of the 

 deceased should feel thirsty during the night. 



Four months subsequently, the nearest of kin went to the place 

 of sepulture and brought away the lower jaw, which about that 

 time had become divested of flesh ; a month afterwards, the shoul- 

 der bones and a rib were extracted, and after six months the skull, 

 now freed from impurities. This was slung round the neck of 

 the principal mourner, and subsequently every one had it in turn to 

 carry about. 



The ceremony for the burial of a chief is, however, generally some- 

 what different from that described for J a c k o. A stage is erected 

 some twenty feet from the ground, and on this the corpse is placed. 

 The powerful spirit of the chief it is hoped will be satisfied, and not 

 injure any one who may incautiously pass near, whilst a fire is light- 

 ed below this stage to scare away any evil spirits which may be 

 lurking about. The extraction of the skull and bones, it is consi- 

 dered, requires great skill and courage, whilst by keeping them 

 carefully, and wearing them during pain and sickness, it is supposed 

 the ghost of the departed will be indiiced to be friendly to the 

 wearer. 



Should a stranger die amongst a foreign tribe, his funeral-rites 

 are entirely neglected, the chief generally directs some of the young 

 men to carry away the corpse, and throw it into the jungle or into 

 the sea. The evil influences of a stranger's spirit are not dreaded. 



Should those of other tribes go to condole and sympathise with 

 a widower, the custom is to fall into his arms, both embracing 

 each other and crying for about ten minutes, subsequently the 

 afflictions are recited. 



When I was at Port Mouat, the Rutland chief was in mourning 

 for his only child, and was daubed all over with olive-coloured earth 

 (a process which is repeated daily), whilst a rather thick coating of 

 mud covered his head. This mourning lasts for one month. Dur- 

 ing periods of deep sorrow they are very silent, entirely refraining 

 from the use of red paint and other decorations, from taking much 

 food, even from eating their favourite pork, whilst honey must not 

 pass their lips, but instead they have daily to throw honeycomb, 

 if obtainable, into the fire. As soon as the period of mourning has 



