Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/408

370 was then dragged by wild horses and buried wherever the rope happened to break, or else the corpse was thrown amongst carrion in the gallows ditch, whereby one also interfered with the suicide after death. For no poor human soul can find rest unless the funeral rites have been properly observed, and to these belong more especially, according to the popular belief, the having prayers read over him, and being buried in consecrated ground. When manners became milder, the suicide was allowed to rest in the churchyard, but was to be buried either before sunrise or after sunset. I myself have been present on such occasions. The grave, to distinguish it from those of the honest dead, might be dug from north to south instead of from east to west. That is an insult, and has been done towards other dead (besides suicides) to teaze them. The intended insult has always been felt by the person in question, and been revenged by malicious haunting. When one compares all the many other examples which point in the same direction, I have no doubt that when the suicide's coffin is carried in over the mound, it is to prevent his ghost finding its way out of the churchyard, as it will be stopped by the hedge.

To continue. I have been witness that a window was thrown open the moment a person was dead. This is still a common custom in the country; in some places they take a sod or a tile off the roof; on both occasions it is to give the soul free exit, and when the openings are again closed, the soul having once come outside won't be able to find its way back.

Hitherto I have kept to home customs, let us now try a comparison. In the Eyrbyggja Saga it is told of Thorolf, that in the morning he was found dead sitting in the seat of honour. Then his wife sent messengers to Arnkel to let him know that his father was dead. Arnkel rode up to Hvam with some of his followers,