Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-15
TRIBES FEAR OF DEATH
Some of tho Strange Customs
That Follow the Arrival
of the Grim Reaper.

When death comes to the head oi
Che S>amesc household the family
ISathcicd about the deceased cry out
l"Oh father bcncfactor. why leave us ?
What have we done to offend thee?
Why depart alone?
Tho coffin, covered with gilded
paper and decorated with tinscl flow.
lcrs. is removed through an opening
In the wall made for the purpose ana
hurried three times round the out
side of the house. with the cautious
hope that the bcwildcrcd ghost may
thus lose his way and be unable To
return ON any haunting expedition
1t is then tremendously borne upon
Il barge and placed on a platform UNI
der Il dais. The barge. followed by
many little boats. floats to the temple.
where the cremation is To take place.
At rich mans funeral tents are
erected within the precipcts OF the
temple for the Indulgence of games
and gambling. while wonderful theat-
rical performances. Introducing mon
sters and other thrills entertain the
funeral guests.
Among the Shnhs. the eldest son
OF the deceased leads the funeral pro.
|cossion. a drawn sword in hand TO
ward off evil spirits. while the other
relatives dance as they 20. IIandkcr-
chiefs. umbrellas, ana yellow robes,
presents TO the priest, give gala air
to the whole. Arrived at the grave
before the coffin is inferred. the de-
ccnscds wife and children and his bro
theirs wives march imprcssively
around the bier with lighted candles.
Unexpected we find one OF the ma
tiNe tribes of Australia bearing n
very poetic conception of the spirit
world after death. Souls, they believe.
ascend TO future place among the
stars by means of ii rope. A meteor
itc Is II falling rope cast aside by Il
successful climber, but should II burst
with noise the rope is broken.
A tribe In New South Wales has
legends prettily akin. The Plclados.
they explain, were young women of
unusual beauty who, pursued by lovers
climbed up into the sky by means OF
trcctops, Whine the leader Of the pur-
sucrs has become Oron.
According to the belief OF the Giliaks
of Siberia. the soul passes from the
body of the dead master into that of
his dog. who Is surprised by all sorts
)of dainty food until the gust within
is prayed out. when the poor animal
equally mystified. is put to death on
his masters grave.
But in the glad. free days of print
tive savagery many tribes were not
satisfied with so petty an offering ms
a dog. They demanded human sacri
flee to grace their graves.
Such were The Sakalava of Mad
agascar and later when forced To
trfA hn al
round their tombs were garIshly dec
Grated with skulls and thorns of cat
| tie killed at their funeral feasts
The sign and symbol Of the Malay
Sakai's BELIEF in II life after death is
crudcly expressed in the custom OF
|burying tobacco box with the body
of Il man. a necklace with that of Il
woman. But the ignorant fear of the
body's pollution seems highly develop
ed, and the house of death is burned
down. the site abandoned even If il
means lost crop of sugar cane OF
tapicoa.
Living between the Malay Pcninsu
In and Wales is a long sweep of MAJ
and civilization. but so remarkable q
custom was followed in the latter
country, within the memory of men
living today that we cannot pass II
| by unclroniclcd.
This was the presence of the Sin
Eater at funerals. Bread beer anC
| cheese placed upon the corpse were
consumed by the Sin Eater who thus
appropriated to himself the deli
acies symbolized by the Wand:
and prevented them from destroying
the rest of the dead.