242 E. Vansittart— Tribes , Gians , and Castes of Nepal. [No. 4, 
On the death of a Gurung in his own country he is buried. The 
following ceremony takes place:—The body is wrapped round with 
many folds of white cloth, pinned together by splinters of wood; it is 
then carried by friends and relations to the graveyard. At the en¬ 
trance of the cemetery it is met by the officiating Lama, who, dressed 
in a long white garment, walks round the cemetery, singing a dirge, and 
the body is carried behind him until he stops opposite the grave. It is 
next lowered into the grave, and then all friends and relations are 
supposed to throw a handful of earth upon the body, after which the 
grave is filled up, and stones placed above. 
In our service Magars and Gurungs on death are either buried or 
burned (but nearly always buried), according to the wish of the nearest 
relative. If they die either of cholera or of small-pox, they are invari¬ 
ably buried. Every regiment, if possible, should be provided with a 
cemetery. The men much appreciate this. 
Magars and Gurungs are exceedingly superstitious. The most 
ordinary occurrences of every-day life are referred by them to super¬ 
natural agency, frequently to the malevolent action of some demon. 
These godlings have in consequence to be continually propitiated. 
Among the minor Hindu deities, Diorali, Chandi, and Devi, are those 
specially worshipped in Gurkha regiments. Outbreaks of any epidemic 
disease, such as cholera or small-pox, are invariably regarded as a 
malign visitation of Diorali or Devi. When going on a journey no one 
will start on an unlucky day of his own accord. After the date has been 
fixed, should any unforeseen occurrence prevent a man from starting, 
he will often walk out a mile or two on the road he intended taking 
and leave a stick on the ground, as a proof of his intention having been 
carried out. 
In March 1889 a Gurkha woman died of cholera in the Gorakhpur 
recruiting depot. Every Gurkha officer, non-commissioned officer, and 
man at the depot at once subscribed. The recruiting officers gave their 
share, and with the proceeds three goats, three fowls, four pigeons, and 
food of sorts, were purchased. Of these, one goat and the four pigeons 
were let loose, and the food thrown away in the name of Devi, and the 
balance of animals were sacrificed to her, and then divided and eaten. 
Before killing the animals, they all prayed together—“ Oh, mother 
Devi, we kill these beasts in thy name ; do thou in return keep away all 
sickness from us.” 
As no fresh case occurred, although there was some cholera about 
in the district, all the Gurkhas in the depot were more firmly convinced 
than ever that this was due entirely to their having propitiated Devi. 
Every Gurkha regiment has a shrine to Diorali, and on the seventh 
