Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

BURIAL CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS
about the hips by a sheltering cloth, it was laid upon
its back on a large piece of tree-bark,^
Though the corpse did not as yet show any traces
of decomposition, the cheeks and the eyes were
somewhat sunken, the eyes still remaining half open.
It was remarkable that on the under surface of the
hands and feet, where the colouring is (at all events
in the living Land Jakun) very faint, the skin of the
corpse had become quite of a milky white, though
it had never been noticeable in the same person
during life.
Several children and women now brought water
in vessels of coconut-shell, and the deceased's daughter
and an old woman began to wash the corpse thoroughly.
Rowland noticed that both women showed
great delicacy of feeling, and, e.g., never exposed the
pubic region, but, in order to wash it, merely wetted
the loin-cloth from the outside or slightly lifted it in
order to pour water underneath it. The younger of
the two women before beginning the work had pushed
her " sarong," which otherwise was always worn over
the breast, lower down and round the hips. Before
strangers this is never done, and they explained later
that this was a sign of special confidence.
After this washing the hair of the corpse was
combed, and a silver needle, which the husband had
first to fetch from his betel-case, was then inserted
through the usual knot of hair at the back of the
deceased's head. The daughter then called one of the
children standing by and had a piece of yellowish
(curcuma-like) root "' brought
; this she bruised a little,
^ Rowland, p. 711.
- Probably as n ch:\rni against evil spirits. Cp. Malay Magic, p. 327.
•^ Probably turmeric.