raibs of Jamaica, and
which seems to throw some light upon the unusual retention of deceased
persons by the tribe in question, although it most be admitted that this
is mere hypothesis:

They had some very extraordinary customs respecting deceased
persons. When one of them died, it was necessary that all his
relations should see him and examine the body in order to ascertain
that he died a natural death. They acted so rigidly on this
principle, that if one relative remained who had not seen the body
all the others could not convince that one that the death was
natural. In such a case the absent relative considered himself as
bound in honor to consider all the other relatives as having been
accessories to the death of the kinsman, and did not rest until he
had killed one of them to revenge the death of the deceased. If a
Caraib died in Martinico or Guadaloupe and but his relations lived
in St. Vincents, it was necessary to summon them to see the body,
and several months sometimes elapsed before it could be finally
interred. When a Caraib died he was immediately painted all over
with _roucou_, and had his mustachios and the black streaks in his
face made with a black paint, which was different from that used in
their lifetime. A kind of grave was then dug in the _carbet_ where
he died, about 4 feet square and 6 or 7 feet deep. The body was let
down in it, when sand was thrown in, which reached to the knees, and
the body was placed in it in a sitting posture, resembling that in
which they crouched round the fire or the table when alive, with the
elbows on the knees and the palms of the hands against the cheeks.
No part of the body touched the outside of the grave, which was
covered with wood and mats until all the relations had examined it.
When the customary examinations and inspections were ended the hole
was filled, and the bodies afterwards remained undisturbed. The hair
of the deceased was kept tied behind. In this way bodies have
remained several months without any symptoms of decay or producing
any disagreeable smell. The _roucou_ not only preserved them from
the sun, air, and insects during their lifetime, but probably had
the same effect after death. The arms of the Caraibs were placed by
them when they were covered over for inspection, and they were
finally buried with them.

Again, we are told that during the burning the bystanders are very
mer