_The order that they haue in burying of the dead, and the mourning
apparell they haue._
[Sidenote: A strange kind of buriall.]
It seemeth vnto me not farre from our purpose, to declare in this place,
how they vse in this kingdome to burie the dead, and it is surely a
thing to be noted: the manner is as foloweth. When that any one doth
die, at the very instant yt he yeeldeth vp ye gost, they do wash his
bodie all ouer from top to toe, then do they apparell him with the best
apparell that he had, all perfumed with sweet smels. Then after he is
apparelled, they do set him in ye best chaier that he hath; then
commeth vnto him his father and mother, brethren and sisters and
children, who kneeling before him, they do take their leaue of him,
shedding of many teares, and making of great moane, euery one of them by
themselues. Then after them in order commeth all his kinsfolkes and
friends; and last of all his servants (if he had any), who in like case
do as the other before. This being done, they do put him into a coffin
or chest, made of verie sweete wood (in that countrie you haue verie
much); they do make it very close, to avoid the euil smel. Then do they
put him on a table with two bankes, in a chamber verie gallantly dressed
and hanged with the best clothes that can be gotten, couering him with a
white sheete hanging downe to the ground, whereon is painted the dead
man or woman, as naturall as possible may be. But first in the chamber
whereas the dead bodie is, or at the entrie, they set a table with
candles on it, and full of bread and fruits of diuers sorts. And in this
order they keepe him aboue ground 15 dayes, in ye which time euery
night commeth thether their priests and religious men, whereas they sing
praiers and offer sacrifices, with other ceremonies: they bring with
them many painted papers, and do burne them in the presence of the dead
bodie, with a thousand superstitions and witch-craftes: and they do hang
vpon cordes (which they haue for the same purpose) of the same papers
before him, and many times do shake them and make a great noyse, with
the which they say it doth send the soule straight vnto heauen.
In the end of the 15 daies, all which time the tables are continually
furnished with victuals and wine, which the priests, their kinsfolkes
and friends, that do come to visite them, do eat. These ceremonies being
ended, they take the coffin with the dead bodie, and carrie him into the
fields, accompanied with all his kinsfolks and friends, and with their
priests and religious men, carrying candles in their hands, wheras
ordinarily they do burie them on a mountaine, in sepulchres, that for
the same purpose in their life time they caused to be made of stone and
masons worke: that being doone, straight waies hard by ye sepulture,
they do plant a pine tree, in ye which place there be many of them, and
they be neuer cut downe except they be ouerthrowne with the weather, and
after they be fallen they let them lie till they consume of themselues,
for that they be sanctified. The people yt do beare him company to the
graue, do go in uery good order like a procession, and haue with them
many instruments, which neuer leaue playing till such time as the dead
is put into the sepulcher. And that burial which hath most priests and
musicke is most sumptuous, wherin they were woont to spend great riches.
They sing to the sound of the instruments many orations vnto their
idols, and in the end they do burne vpon the sepulcher many papers,
whereon is painted slaues, horse, gold, siluer, silkes, and many other
things, the which they say, that the dead body doth possesse in the
other world whether he goeth to dwell. At such time as they do put him
into the grave, they doo make great bankets and sports with great
pastime, saying of a truth, that looke what soeuer they doo at that
time, the angels and saints that are in heauen doe the like vnto the
souls of the dead that is there buried. Their parents, familiars, and
servants, in all this time doo weare mourning apparell, the which is
verie asper,[74] for that their apparell is made of a verie course
wolle, and weare it next vnto their skins, and girt vnto them with
cords, and on their heads bunnets of the same cloth, with verges brode
like vnto a hat hanging downe to their eyes; for father or mother they
do weare it a hole yeare, and some two yeares, and if his son be a
gouernor (with licence of the king), he doth withdraw himself many
times, leauing the office he hath, the which they esteeme a great point
of honor, and have it in great account, and such as are not so much in
aliance do apparell them in died linnen certaine monethes. Likewise
their parents and friendes, although these doo weare it but for the time
of the buriall.