Some months later a shelter was built over the grave, with a rough table under it. On this table mugs, bottles, saucepans, plates, etc., were arranged; and at the sides, and under the table, stools, chairs, large wine-jars were put; but everything was “killed,” i.e. broken. All the natives told me that the articles were “killed” to keep people from stealing them, yet they had an idea that the things thus displayed not only served as a memorial to the deceased, but helped him in some indefinable way in the spirit-land. Undoubtedly they had forgotten the reason for “killing” the articles. The stealing reason was not sufficient to meet the case, for there was too wholesome a fear of the revenge the spirits could inflict, and detection was too easy for anyone to be so foolhardy as to rob a grave. No, this display of useful goods served three purposes: it was a “monument” to the important man buried beneath it; it was a proof of his own, and his family’s, wealth; and lastly, and probably the original object of the articles being placed on the grave, they were conveniences to increase his comfort and prestige in the spirit world to which he had gone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER VII SOCIAL LIFE AND ORGANIZATION Salutations—Sneezing—Land is communal—River rights—Slaves and their position—Laws of inheritance—Sons given as pawns—Masters’ responsibility—Debtor and creditor—Rules for collecting debts—Rules for fighting—The evening meal—Dividing food—Greediness condemned—The village dance—The impromptu song—Its effect on various people. Rudeness, discourtesy, and lack of sociality are greatly condemned by the Boloki, and will be punished in _longa_, or the nether regions to which their spirits go after death; hence they are very punctilious about saluting each other whenever they meet, visit, or pass one another. The following are their principal salutations. Morning: _Olongo O!_ You are awake. Answer: _Nalongoi O!_ I am awake. _Obimi O!_ You are out. Answer: _Nabimi O!_ I am out. Later in the day, when a man is passing a neighbour’s house, he will say to the one sitting inside or outside his house: _Ojali O!_ or _Ol’ o moi O!_ You are alive (exist or sit), or, You are there. Answer: _Najali O!_ or _Nal’ oni O!_ I am alive, or I am here. If the resident sees the visitor first he says: _Oy’ oni O!_ You have come here. Answer: _Nay’ oni O!_ I have come here. If the visitor stays chatting for a little time, he says on leaving: _Nake O!_ I go. And the other responds: _Oke O!_ You go. If a man is ill he is greeted thus: _Okeli boti O!_ You are a little better (_bolau_ is understood). After his illness the greeting is: _Okeli bolau O!_ You are good, i.e. You are better. And the answer to the first is: _Nakeli boti O!_ I am a little better; and to the second: _Nakeli bolau O!_ I am well.