FUKEREAL CUSTOMS. 
109 
WTien the friends aod relatives arc all collected, the 
b<Jdy is placed upon a bier, on which numerous pieces 
of cloth have been laidj the quantity being according to 
the ability of the deceased ; and under the bier are placed 
large dishes of China porcelain, to catch any moisture 
that may fall from the body. The dishes which have been 
put to this purpose are after wai'iL^ much prized by the 
Alfoers. The body is then brought out before the house, 
and supported against a post, when attempts are made to 
induce it to eat. Lighted aegars, arrack, rice, fruit, &e., 
are again stuffed into its moutb, and the by-standers, 
striking up a song, demand whether the sight of all his 
friends and fellow-villagers will not induce the deceased 
to awaken ? At length, when they find all these endea- 
\ours to be fruitless, they place the body on a bier, 
adorned with Hags, and carry it out into the forest, where 
it is fixed upon the top of four posts, A tree, usually the 
Pavctta Indica, is then planted near it j aud it is remark- 
able that at this last ceremony none but women, entirely 
naked, are present. This is called by the Alfoers 'sudah 
buang,' by which they mean that the body is now cast 
away, and can listen to them no longer. The entire 
cei'enionv proves that the Alfoers are deprived of that 
consolation afforded by our religion ; and that they only 
give expression to the grief they natm-ally feel at parting 
with one to whom they have been attached."* 
The chiefs and upper classes of the north-western 
islands of the group are for the most part Christiana of 
the Dutch Reformed Church, the pastoral duties being 
• Kolff, " Voyage of the ' Doarga/ " p. 161 et s?q. 
