The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55, 1690-1691: Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55, 1690-1691: Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
441. The coffin with the body was placed in one of three places,
according to the direction of the deceased: either in the highest
story of the house itself, in a place like a cock-house, where they
usually keep their treasures and other goods; or under the house,
which is the sìlong, elevated from the ground; or if they place it
in the ground itself, they dig a hole, and enclose it with a small
railing and there they deposit the box with the body without covering
over the hole. They buried others in the fields, and lit fires in the
house, and then set sentinels so that the deceased should not come
to take away the living with him. Others had themselves buried in a
lofty place on the seashore, in order that they might be venerated
and worshiped; and sentinels were posted so that no boats should pass
there for a certain time.
442. Another box, filled with the best clothes of the deceased and
various viands on their dishes, were set near the grave; if the
deceased were a man, various weapons that he used were left there;
if a woman, her loom, or other work-utensils that she had used. If
the deceased had while living been employed in sea-raids, as a
pirate, his coffin was made in the shape of a boat which they call
barangay. As rowers they placed in it two goats, two hogs, two deer,
or more, as they wished, male and female paired, with a slave of the
deceased as pilot in order to take care of them all. Some food was
put in for their sustenance, and when that food was consumed, they
dried up with hunger and thirst, and all perished. If the deceased
had been a warrior, a living slave, bound, was placed under him,
and was left there to die with him. After the burial, although the
lamentation ceased somewhat, the revelry in the house of the deceased
did not cease. On the contrary, it lasted a longer or shorter time,
according to the rank of the deceased.
443. On the third or fourth day of the funeral, all the relatives
assembled at the house of the deceased, for they said that he returned
that day to visit them. At the landing of the stairway of the house,
they set water in a basin or tub, so that the deceased might wash
his feet there, and rid himself of the earth of the grave. They kept
a candle lit all that day. They stretched a petate, or reed mat, on
the floor and sprinkled ashes on it, so that the deceased might leave
the marks of his feet there. At meal time they left the best place at
table vacant for the dead guest. They ate and drank, as at the most
splendid banquet; and then spent the balance of the day in relating
and singing the prowess of the deceased; then each one went home. This
ridiculous ceremony is called tibao. The Indians even yet retain
the oldtime custom of this assembly, but all superstition and error
have been removed from it, and they unite to pray for the deceased;
but it is not without inconveniences that ought to be remedied.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account