Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/290

 ^46 RELIGION OF BALI, times round in a circle, at the same pace at which they arrived, and still sitting in their litters, they were forthwith taken out of their vehicles, one after another, in order to be placed in the troughs. Presently five men, and one or two women, ap- proached them, pulling off all the flowers with which they were adorned, while, at each occasion, holding their joined hands above their heads, they raised the pieces of the offering which the other women posted behind, laid hold of, and threw upon the ground, as well as the flowers. Some of the at- tendants set loose a pigeon or a fowl, to mark by that that their soul was on the point of taking its flight to the mansions of the blessed. "At this last signal they were divested of all their garments, except their sashes j and four of the men seizing the victim, two by the arms, which they held out extended, and two by the feet, the vic- tim standing, the fifth prepared himself for the execution, the whole being done without cover- ing the eyes. " Some of the most courageous demanded the poignard themselves, which they received in the right hand, passing it into the left, after respect- fully kissing the weapon. They wounded their right arms, sucked the blood which flowed from the wound, and stained their lips with it, making with the point of the finger a bloody mark on the forehead. Then returning the dagger to their ex-