136 CEREMONIES OBSERVED 
sent for by special messengers, and are expected 
immediately to attend. The eyes of the corpse 
are closed by the father, mother, sister, brother, or 
nearest relative present ; and the body is covered 
with the choicest garments which any of them pos- 
sess. After the first day, it is beaten by the bro- 
ther with fresh flax, gathered for the purpose ; and 
tliis is done with the intention of driving away any 
thing evil that may still be lingering about him : 
tlie spirit is then sung out of the body, to the 
realms above; or, as they say, they know not 
whether it may not be to the regions below. The 
legs of the dead body are then tied up, in such a 
position as to cause the knees nearly to touch the 
chin. The hair is very neatly dressed, and deco- 
rated with feathers ; and the body is then placed 
in a box lined with blankets, and painted outside 
with red ochre and whiting: it is exposed to the 
view of all who wish to see it, and the most bitter 
weeping and wailing is continued, night and day, 
till tlie sun has three times risen and set upon 
the earth. All the immediate relatives and friends 
of the deceased, with the slaves, or other servants 
or dependants, if he possessed any, cut themselves 
most grievously, and present a frightful picture 
to a European eye. A piece of flint (made sacred 
on account of the blood which it has shed, and the 
purpose for which it has been used) is held between 
the third finger and the thumb ; the depth to 
which it is to enter the skin appearing beyond the 
nails. The operation commences in the middle of 
