EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 



is not interred without expence, being generally put in a 

 coffin of the very heft wood and workmanfliip, while 

 the cries and lamentations of his furviving friends, who 

 ling a dirge, pierce the iky. The grave being filled up, 

 and a green turf neatly fpread over it, a couple of large 

 gourds are put by the fide, the one with water, the other 

 with boiled fowls, pork, cafiava, Sec. as a libation, not 

 from a fuperfi:itious notion, as fome believe, that he will 

 eat or drink it, but as a tefi:imony of that regard which 

 they have for his memory and afhes ; while fome even 

 add the little furniture that he left behind, breaking it 

 in pieces over the grave. This done, every one takes his 

 lafl: farewell, fpeaking to him as if alive, and tefiiifying 

 their forrow at his departure ; adding, that they hope to 

 fee him, not in Guinea^ as fome have written, but in that 

 better place, where he now enjoys the pleafant company 

 of his parents, friends, and anceftors ; when another dif- 

 mal yell ends the ceremony, and all return home. Next a 

 fat hog being killed, with fowls, ducks, &c. a general 

 jfeafi: is given by his friends to. all the other negroes, 

 which concludes not till the following day. The nearefl: 

 conne6lions and relations of the deceafed, both male and 

 female, now cut their hair and fliave their heads, round 

 which having tied a dark blue handkerchief, they wear 

 this mourning for a whole year ; after which, once more 

 vifiting the grave, they offer a lafl: libation, and taking 

 their final farewell, another hog and fowls being killed, 



* We are told Job did the fame. 



O o 2 the. 



