IWHABITIWJ THE MALAYAN PKNIHSULA. 71 



took place hei'ore noon, the body is buried 

 tlie same dav; if alter noon, tfie rurieral is 

 del'ered until next day. The corpse is wasii- 

 ed, wrapped in some ciotli, and interred, 

 by relations and neigliboui's, in a grave 

 about four or five cubits deep. The suui- 

 pitan, quiver of ari*ows, knife, etc, of the 

 deceased are buried with him; along with 

 some rice, water and tobacco. 1 cpiestioned 

 them respecting the reason of burying sucli 

 things with the deceased, hut 1 could mii 

 obtain any answer except that this was the 

 custom practised by their ancestors and 

 1 olio wed by them. This practice is not pe- 

 cohar to the Jakuns; we know from history 

 that jnany of the ancient people did so, 

 and that such a custom is even yet followed 

 amongst some Tartar tribes. Like many 

 other people, the Jakuns consider white as 

 a sacred colour; and it is a pecidiai* sub- 

 ject ofcond'ort, when, in their hist sirkitess, 

 they ran procure lor lliemselves some wliile 



