CURIOUS DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2082, 6 September 1875, Page 3

CURIOUS DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD.

" From a communication from Mr Wolbers, a missionary in New. Guinea, we take the following; respecting the treatment of the dead by the Papuans at Mor3. The dead a.re always wrapped in a mat, and a watch is then kept until the skin becomes loosened. When this skin is taken off, the corpse, has a white appearance, but, is again blackened with burnt tree bark, and. wrapped anew in the mat. It is now laid upon a scaffolding under, which a slow fire is kept up until the corpse is dried. Whilst the corpse .is drying, the nearest relations must bake plantains at the spot upon which the black blood trickles the most plentifully, *md eat them up in this great strictness is shown). A man stands by with a chopper to strike off the head oi the unwilling. When the corpse is as dry as a fisb, a sipall house is built ol ?ery strong wood, in which the corpse t is placed in "a sitting posture, and remains in that condition until,the small house falls in. Then; all who had loved the deceased or were of:lcin him or her, take bits of bone,: which they wear as amulets round the neck, or, always carry with them in a travelling bag.

How She Taught Him.—A paper printed in Eufaula, Ala., gives the following as a veritable incident which occurred the other day ip that city:—" A lady hired an old negro woman, named Charlotte, who had the most exalted opinion of her own individuality and. originality. Whenever a subiect w.as under discussion in the family Charlotte would be sure to state her own superipr method of proceeding in such matters. sOn one occasion the lady was talking "of sending the children to school, whfM Charlotte put in her oar as usual: " Lor, missus,' she said, ' what naek you pay money for to send tho chile to, school? I. got one smart hoy, Jonus, but I Tarns him myself.' ' But, Aunt Charlotte,' replied the lady, * how can yqu teach your child when you don't know one letter from another?' ' How I teach him P* I jis mek him tek de book, an' set down on de flo, an' den I say, " Jonus, you tek yo eye from that book, much less-, leggo him, an' I skins you alive."'"