THE SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS. 63 



and places them on the spot where the dead body was put down in order to enable 

 the relations to have a last look. There are no ceremonies in respect of purifica- 

 tion in the case of death. Death does not render the relatives unclean. During 

 five days the near relatives of the deceased abstain from eating food cooked with 

 oil and turmeric. After five days an animal is killed on behalf of the deceased within 

 the village. The same day the bearers kill the animal purchased by them with the 

 proceeds of property taken from the deceased. This animal is killed, cooked and 

 eaten by them outside the village ; the bearers and relatives and all the villagers, 

 women and children, sit outside their houses and makai rice and meat are given in 

 bhelua leaves to everybody. Pochai is also given. Before feasting, some broiled 

 liver, pochai and makai rice are placed by all the guests at the spot where the body 

 was first laid down. These things are placed in bhelua leaves and the relatives take 

 precedence in making the offering. The deceased is called upon by name to accept 

 the offerings made, and he is told of all that has been done for him ; then everyone 

 begins the feast. After this the elders sit and repeat a homily to the relatives, which 

 may be translated as folows : "Be not sorrowful, his days are ended and he has 

 now been taken by the Ldihu Gosain (Maker)." After the lapse of a year invitations 

 to another feast are sent to all relatives, and these relatives bring offerings of rice 

 and pochai. 



The Charri Beddu ties a stone to a string, or balances a bow, and sits facing the 

 east, holding the string and the stone suspended. He says, " O Ber Gosain, in whose 

 name shall the drums be beaten to please the deceased ? ' ' Names are repeated until 

 the pendulum or bow oscillates. The drums are beaten according to the measure for 

 this ceremony by the individual thus selected. The Charri Beddu then asks, " Who 

 shall kill the goat to please thee O deceased Rama ? " (white goat). The name being 

 ascertained, the Demno, who is present, is given some pochai inside the house, and he 

 comes outside and everyone follows him. Straw is placed for him and he sits there- 

 on. He takes a quantity in his hands. He washes his feet and hands and then sits 

 and calls to the deceased waving the straw in his hands, " Oh come, these things are 

 for thee ; come, oh come ! By the godlings and demons, by the rocks and the jungles, 

 by all the powers of darkness and light, come, O Rama, come to the feast provided for 

 thee, etc." This incantation has to be seen ; it is indescribable. The Demno be- 

 comes more and more excited, his limbs tremble and his voice comes from him in gasps 

 and yells until, on a sudden, he says, " I am here ! I am Rama !! " Then his relatives 

 fall on him, and, weeping and laughing, dress him in saffron-stained garments. The 

 Demno asks for things required by him, brass plates, and money too, if he has taken 

 the trouble beforehand to find out where it is hidden. He says, " O mother, where 

 is my thallia, or money : bring it mother. I and my ancestors are very poor and I 

 wish to take it with me ; bring me so and so, father or aunt or sister ! " Everything 

 desired is given without suspicion. He also asks for food and a quantity of each 

 of the different kinds of food provided is heaped on a plate, and placed in the Demno' s 

 hands ; being Rama he eats and drinks and throws pieces of food over his shoulders 

 to his deceased relatives calling them by name ! While he is eating, the goat is killed 



