When the grave is ready, the fact is announced in the dwelling, and is the signal for renewed lamentation. The wife and near relatives throw themselves on the corpse, caressing it and crying wildly. Whatever there may have been of duty or respect in the wailing of the first two days, this parting burst of sorrow is genuine. Tears stand in the eyes of many, while others cease their wailing and sob convulsively. After a time an old woman brings in some _oldot_ seeds, each strung on a thread, and fastens one on the wrist of each person, as a protection against the evil spirit Akop, who, having been defeated in his designs against the widow, may seek to vent his anger on others. When this has been done, a medium seats herself in front of the body; and, covering her face with her hands, begins to chant and wail, bidding the spirit to enter her body. Suddenly she falls back in a faint, while suppressed excitement is manifested by all the onlookers. After a moment or two, fire and water are placed at her head and feet, "in order to frighten the spirit away," and then the medium gives the last message of the dead man to his family. This is, except for very rare exceptions, the only time that the spirits of the deceased communicate with mortals; and it is, so far as the writer has been able to learn, the only occasion when the medium repeats messages given to her. At other times she is possessed by natural spirits, [103] who then talk directly with mortals. As a last preparation for the grave, a small hole is burned in each garment worn by the dead person, for otherwise the spirit Ibwa will envy him his clothing and attempt to steal them. The corpse is then wrapped in a mat, and is carried from the house. [104] The bearers go directly to the _balaua,_ [105] and rest the body in it for a moment. Unless this is done, the spirit will be poor in its future life and unable to build _balaua_. The body is deposited full length in the grave, the stone slabs are relaid, the chinks between them filled in with damp clay, and the grave is refilled. [106] As the last earth is pushed in, a small pig is killed, and its blood is sprinkled on the loose soil. Meanwhile Selday is besought to respect the grave and leave it untouched. The animal is cut up, and a small piece is given to each guest, who will stop on the way to his home, and place the meat on the ground as an offering, meanwhile repeating a _diam_. Should he fail to do this, sickness or death is certain to visit his home or village. As a further protection against evily disposed spirits, especially Ibwa, an iron plough-point is placed over the grave, "for most evil spirits fear iron;" and during this night and the nine succeeding, a fire is kept burning at the grave and at the foot of the house-ladder. [107]