st powerful were anointed and embalmed
according to the manner of the Hebrews, with aromatic liquors which
preserve the body from corruption, especially that made from the aloes
wood, or as it is called, eagle-wood. That wood is much esteemed
and greatly used throughout this India extra Gangem. The sap from
the plant called buyo (which is the famous betel of all India) was
also used for that purpose. A quantity of that sap was placed in the
mouth so that it would reach the interior. The grave of poor people
was a hole in the ground under their own houses. After the rich and
powerful were bewailed for three days, they were placed in a box or
coffin of incorruptible wood, the body adorned with rich jewels, and
with sheets of gold over the mouth and eyes. The box of the coffin was
all of one piece, and was generally dug out of the trunk of a large
tree, and the lid was so adjusted that no air could enter. By such
means some bodies have been found uncorrupted after the lapse of many
years. Those coffins were placed in one of three places, according to
the inclination and command of the deceased. That place was either
in the upper part of the house with the jewels, which are generally
kept there; or in the lower part of it, raised up from the ground;
or in the ground itself, in an open hole which is surrounded with a
small railing, without covering the coffin over with earth. Near it
they generally placed another box filled with the best clothing of the
deceased, and at suitable times various kinds of food were placed on
dishes for them. Beside the men were placed the weapons, and beside
the women their looms or other instruments of labor. If they were
much beloved by those who bewailed them, they were not permitted
to go alone. A good meal was given to some slave, male or female,
and one of those most liked by the deceased; and then he was killed,
in order that he might accompany the deceased. Shortly before the
entrance of the faith into the island of Bool, one of the chiefs of
that island had himself buried in a kind of boat, which the natives
call barangay, surrounded by seventy slaves with arms, ammunition,
and food--just as he was wont to go out upon his raids and robberies
when in life; and as if he were to be as great a pirate in the other
life as in this. Others buried their dead in the open country, and
made fires for many days under the house, and set guards so that the
deceased should not return to carry away thos