The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-01-08
WHEN LIFE IS DONE
Some Peoples Give Their Dead to
Animals to Devour.
PECULIAR FUNERAL CUSTOMS


Strange indeed are many Of the cere-
monies attending the disposal of the
dead in different parts Of the world.
f1pd, following the natural order Of
lhings. the more primitive the nation
the more primitive its methods. The
rudest mode now prevalent is that of
simply leaving the body exposed. but
the ways Of exposure vary consider.
ably. Some wandering tribes net on
the maxim. Where the tree fails.
there let It Iie." and. leaving the dead
behind. move their camp to pastures
new. The Wanyamwesi. however. carry
their dead into the forest to be de-
voured by beats of prey, while some
Of the tribes of Guinea throw the
1corpse into the sea.
The Kamchadales keep dogs to con.
sumo their dead. under the strange i'm.
preston that those who are devoured
by dogs will be the masters Of line
dogs In the world beyond The Par.
sees although cultured nation.
place their dead In round tower.
called tower Of science. and the
vultures who make such towers their
habitation finish the work. In Da-
honey 1t was been stated that per-
son whose body has been struck by
lightning is hacked to pieces and de
Syoured by the priests.
y Rnriul nf cnurca hao monv dif.
ferent forms. the simplest Of which
is perhaps the piling of stones or
thorns over the body to keep or wild
beasts. Some tribes bury their chill
dren by the roadside. so that their souls
may enter into the bodies OF the pas
sersby. Burial in the earth is an ear
lier custom than that of cremation.
embalming. or drying the body by sus-
pending it from tree. and many
nations have more than one custom
for instance. merely burying their
women. while the men are embalmed
or dried.
!. An instance of several customs be-
Eng in common use In one tribe is to
be seen among the Kalmucks They
either expose. bury. burn. throw the
body into the water. pile over it heap
of stones or build hut over it. doing
whatever the priest considers to he
the most suitable. The position of the
body also varies considerably. but as
a general rule the head Is laid either
to the east or to the west The Bon
COS. however. are an exception. for
they bury the women with the face
to the south. and the men with the
face 10 the north.
expressions Of grief at the loss Of the
deceased. grief not untinged with fear
OF him In his new state. and vent I'm
self inflicted tortures and other ire
mendously exaggerated expressions Of
woe. The inha bitants of New Zealand
the aborigines that ls-bednub them
selves with pigment and wound them
selves with broken shells. The Ha
waiians 20 still further. knocking out
their teeth and cutting Off an ear or
finger Joint. while. when Hawaii was
under the rude Of m0narchs. mt the
kings death the nation at large feign.
co madness through grief. and this
WAS the signal for unbridied license OF
every description.
No nation IL there. as a whole. which
AOelieves that the soul does not con
tinue tn exist after II leaves the body.
and the origin OF many funeral rites
Is the belief that death means the
souls transition from one state tn an.
other and that II IN necessary to enter
tain the soul on the Journey: hence IL
Is that wives. servants. horses. money.
weapons. musical Instruments meat
and drink are among the things buried
with the body The I.aplnnders sup
ply the corpse with Hint. steel and tin
Pder wherewith to obtain light by the
way. AMI the Clouds even place tooth
picks IN The grave
Rather n touching custom IL I,revn
lent among the Greenla nders. for on
the death of n child they bury dog
with II To guide II. certain that n do.
will find his way anywhere The Rus
SLAMS have n custom of placing n IniI"'
passport In the hand OF the Decreased
to he shown to Peter M the gate ~
heaven. while nc one time In Wales
''sin eaters were employed. who u,
eating n Naf of bread over the dead
body took upon themselves the burden
Of the drceased's sins.
IL would seem that the fear OF heinz
haunted by the ghost 0f the departed
has had no small effect upon many oi
the rites prncticed for the Egvpiians
turn the body round and round 81 as
to confuse the spirits idea Of dire"
ton. white the peasants ~ Hrnnden
burg Im'ur phil OF water after the
corpse I" prevent its return ami IN.
abor.ginrs NJ Australia remove The
nails ~ the dead. 40 thar they nm,
not scratch their way out of the grave
-Londuu Globe.
Queer Justice.
= Prison Visitor My friend. you ought
Eof m cs,sn,,lnin Won N ~ here m s,itlx