They Bury Their Dead In Deep Pits, Much Like Those In Use Among
The Arabs.
During all the time that the dead body is preserved in the
house, meat and drink are regularly set
Before it every evening; and if
they find these gone in the morning, they imagine that the dead have
consumed all; and all this time they cease not from bewailing their loss,
insomuch, that their expences upon these occasions, in paying the last
duties to their deceased relations, are exorbitant, and often consume their
wealth and estates, to the utter ruin of the living. In former times, they
buried very rich apparel, and those expensive girdles already mentioned,
with the bodies of their kings, and others of the blood royal; but this
custom is now discontinued, because it has happened that the bodies have
been dug up from their graves by thieves, for the sake of what was buried
with them. The whole nation, great and small, rich and poor, are taught to
read and write. The titles of their viceroys or governors, are varied
according to the dignity and rank of the cities under their government.
Those of the smaller cities are called Tusing, which signifies the
governor of a town. Those of the greater cities, such as Canfu, are stiled
Difu, and the eunuch or lieutenant is stiled Tukam. These lieutenants
are selected from among the inhabitants of the cities. There is also a
supreme judge called Lakshima-makvan, and they have other names for other
officers, which we do not know how properly to express.
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