After death solemn funeral services are held. The soul is supposed to be immortal and to exist in Hades. From this Hades we are separated by a stream, impassable, save as the soul is carried over upon the wings of a bird, to which they give various names. The soul is supposed to linger near the grave or place of sepulture until a solemn commemorative service is held, a month, or more commonly, a year, after the decease of the body. At this time a feast is proclaimed. All the villagers and relatives are gathered together. A bone of the deceased is then taken from the grave, usually the back-bone, and shrined in a carved wooden shrine, which is surmounted by the figure of the sacred bird. Dirges, exceedingly poetic and beautiful, are sung to minor strains. A procession of young men and maidens moves round the shrine, bewailing the deceased and speaking of the hopes of his safe entrance into a beautiful land, or, as the northern tribes call it, the “silver city.” The feast lasts for a number of days, usually seven, but if the family of the deceased is rich, it is sometimes prolonged to a month. The bone is then buried with great ceremony, and the soul is supposed to enter its state of rest; yet not a state of perfect happiness, for say the Karens, “No one can obtain blessedness until Yuah returns and brings with him happiness for this life and for that which is to come.” Mrs. Vinton, a missionary to Burmah, wrote: “The Karens in general listen with great interest when we tell them of God, and frequently exclaim, ‘That is what our forefathers told us! That is right! That is good!’ I have endeavored to discover how their forefathers came by a knowledge of God; but they always answer, ‘Our ancestors knew Him from the beginning, but when they sinned against Him He hid Himself from them; and their descendants after them knew not how to worship Him; and, as He did not protect them from evil spirits, they were obliged to offer sacrifices to them to appease their wrath.’ “They tell us of many attempts ‘to return to the worship of the God who made the earth, and the heavens, and all things.’ “These efforts have sometimes been continued for months, and even years; but the poor Karens have invariably fallen a sacrifice to the brutal persecutions of the Burmans. “One village of nearly a thousand inhabitants worshiped God in this way for some time, unknown to the Burmans; but when the latter learned the fact they sent an armed force to destroy the village. Some of the Karens inquired of their leader if they should fight. ‘No,’ replied the chief, ‘it is inconsistent with the worship of our God to fight. We will cast ourselves upon His protection.’ They then opened their gates, brought forth their weapons of defense, and laid them at the feet of their enemies. Thus defenseless, they were immediately slain by their cruel oppressors, the Burmans.” CHAPTER XX. THE FIRE-WORSHIPERS.