Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 2.djvu/28

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LIMBOOS.

square tomb of stone, about four feet high, placing upon it an upright stone. On this is engraved a record of the quantity of largess distributed at the funeral of the deceased. This inscription is either in the Dev-Nagri or Lepcha character, according to the comparative facility of procuing an engraver in either. It is an act of virtue in the relatives to give largess, but it does not appear to be considered of any efficacy to the soul of the departed. The Limboos do not make offerings, or sacrifices for the dead, nor have they any belief in the transmigration of souls. They mourn the dead by weeping and lamentations at the time, and by avoiding merry-makings, and adorning the hair with flowers for a month or two. They are a warlike race, and occasionally enlist in the British native army.