While Sometimes Still Alive, The Body Is Covered
Up With Mother Earth.
Frequently the grave is so shallow that the
matted hair may be seen coming out at the top.
The burial is
generally made near a wood, and, if passible, under the holy wood
tree, which, in their judgment, has great influence with evil
spirits. Wild beasts, attracted by the odor of the corpse, soon dig
up the remains, and before next day it is frequently devoured.
An ordinary burial service may be thus described: A deep cut is
first made in the stomach of the departed one. Into this incision a
stone, some bone ash, and a bird's claw are introduced. The body is
then placed over the grave on two sticks, a muttering incantation is
said by the witch doctor, and the sticks are roughly knocked from
under the body, so as to permit it to fall in a sitting posture. A
bow and arrows, and some food and cooking utensils, are dropped into
the grave. All shooting stars, according to the Indian belief, are
flying stones; hence the custom of placing a stone in the stomach of
the dead. It is supposed to be able to mount heavenward, and,
assuming its true character, become the avenging adversary, and
destroy the one who caused the death - always a bad witch doctor. The
bird's claw scratches out the enemy's heart, and the ashes annihilate
the spirit. One of the missionaries in the Lengua tribe stated that
he assisted at the burial of a woman where the corpse fell head
foremost into the grave, the feet remaining up.
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