When pounded they are mixed with water (di-banchor^107 ) in a large bowl
holding about two gallons, the water at the top being poured off into a vessel of
similar capacity, and scooped up and sprinkled as before on the corpse. The next
washing is with juice of limes. Four or five limes (limau nipis) are taken, the
ends cut off, and each lime slashed crosswise on the top without completely
severing the parts. These limes are then squeezed (di-ramaskan) into another
large bowl containing water, and the washing repeated. The final washing, or
“Nine Waters” (ayer sambilan, so called from the water being scooped up, and
poured thrice to the right, thrice to the left, and thrice over the front of the corpse
from head to foot) is performed with fresh water as at first, and the whole
ceremony when completed is called bĕdara. The washing completed, the orifices
—e.g. ears, nostrils, eyes—are generally stopped with cotton, and the body is
carried back to its mattress, and laid in a shroud of white cotton cloth, which
should be about seven feet long by four feet in width (salabuh), so that the edges
meet over the breast. After this the last kiss is given by the nearest relatives, who
must not, however, disturb the corpse by letting their tears fall upon its features.
The shroud is usually of three thicknesses in the case of poor people, but
wealthier families use five, and even seven-fold shrouds. In Selangor, however,
each shroud is usually a separate piece of cloth. The dead body of a child is
sometimes covered in addition with a fine sort of white powder (abok tanah or
tayamam), which is sprinkled over the face and arms. Five knots are used in
fastening the shroud, the ends being drawn up and tied (kochong) by means of
the unravelled hem or selvage of the shroud torn into tape-like strips,^108 which
are bound thrice round the body at the breast, the knees, and the hips
respectively, as well as above the head and below the feet. The corpse is then
laid on the mattress or mat again, this time with its head to the north, and on its
right side looking towards the west (Mecca), which is the position it is to occupy
in the grave. Prayers are then offered by four or five “praying-men” (orang
mĕnyĕmbahyang), who know the burial service by heart, the Bilal or Imām
joining in the service, and all turning towards the west in the usual way. One
“praying-man” is sufficient, if no more are to be had, his fee ranging from 50
cents to a dollar in the case of the poorer classes, and among the rich often
amounting to $5 or $6. This service is held about 1 P.M. so as to give plenty of
time to carry the body to the grave and return before nightfall.
A jugful of eagle-wood (gharu) and sandal-wood (chĕndana) water is then
prepared, a small piece of each wood being taken and grated on a stone over the