Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 6 1888.djvu/280

 272 neatly laced up, and is laid lengthways on the right hand side of the fireplace. The relatives and friends of the deceased sit around the remaining parts of the fireplace, and usually they are so numerous as to fill the hut. In all cases many sacred symbols (inao) are made, and placed around the hut and the dead body. Mr. Bachelor has seen the corpse of a woman laid out. She was well dressed, and had her utensils and paraphernalia about her (the rings and beads being, in this instance, laid upon her bosom), and was shod with pieces of white calico which Mrs. Bachelor had, a few days previously, given to the husband of the deceased to bind up his wounded foot. Any white material seems to be especially welcome to the Ainos for wrapping up the bodies of their dead. "When the body has been properly dressed, and when the necessary eating-vessels or hunting materials are placed in position, a cake made of millet, or a cup of boiled rice and some wine, are placed by its side, and the spirit of the departed is supposed to eat up the essence of these things. Then the goddess of fire is implored to take charge of the spirit and lead it safely to the Creator of the world and the possessor of heaven, and she receives various messages to the Deity setting forth the praises of the dead and extolling his many virtues. Millet cakes and wine are then handed round to every member of the assembled company, and each of them offers two or three drops of the wine to the spirit of the dead, then drinks a little, and pours what remains before the fire as an offering to the fire goddess, to whom they have not ceased to pray; then part of the millet cake is eaten, and the remainder buried in the ashes on the hearth, each person burying a little piece. After the burial these scraps are collected and carried out of the hut and placed before the east window, which is regarded as a sacred place. The corpse is then carefully rolled up in a mat, neatly tied up, attached to a pole, and carried to the grave by two men. The mourners follow after the corpse, in single file, each carrying something to be buried in the grave, the men leading and the women following them. The grave is from two and a half to three and a half feet deep, and round the inside of it stakes are driven, and over them and at the bottom of the grave mats are placed. Then the body is laid in the grave, with numerous little