The Funeral Ceremonies of the Hottentots. 
225 
be at their evening meal when this noise is heard, each throws some 
food backwards to satisfy the " Thas jackals," that no harm may come 
to them ! The cry of this animal is said to be much louder than that 
of any other nocturnal animals. 
A peculiarity of the Hottentots in doing homage to their dead is 
what they call " heidje eibib." In the event of a grave being close 
to a road where the Hottentots continually pass to and fro, the way- 
farers throw a stone on to the mound when passing by. This is a 
sign of honour to the deceased, and this duty is strictly observed 
where there are graves of ancestors of the Hottentots. There is a 
large "heidje eibib" at Stygerkraal, near O'okiep ; the Hottentots say 
that this grave is that of one of their great-grandfathers who originally 
came from another country. 
