Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/191

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of Greenland.
149

beſt Clothes,He is buried in his beſt Clothes in a Grave made up of Stones. Near which they lay his Utenſils. and well wrapt up in Skins of Rain-Deer, or Seals, with his Legs bent under his Back. Near the Burying-Place they lay his Utenſils, viz. his Boat, Bows, Arrows and the like; and if it be a Woman, her Needles, Thimbles and the like; not that they believe they ſtand in Need of thoſe Things, when they are come to the Land of Souls, or in the other World, whither they are retired, but for the Averſion they have for thoſe Things; left by refreſhing the Memory of the deceaſed, they might renew their Grief and Sorrow for his Loſs; for if they ſhould bewail him and weep too much, they think he will endure the more cold where he is.

They think themſelves unclean, if they touch any thing belonging to the Deceaſed; as likewiſe he that has carried him to the Grave, and buried him, is reckoned unclean for ſome Time,The Mourners are reputed unclean for a while, and muſt abſtain from certain Things. and dares not do certain Things: Nay, not only the Kindred and Relations of the Deceaſed, but likewiſe every one that has lived in the ſame Houſe
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