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170
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1895.
Being costly, they are regarded as evidence of wealth, and only the well-to-do members of the community afford themselves the luxury of possessing one or
more specimens. They are said to be survivals of ancient weapons. 166 (S). Nong-ta-chiha. Ornamental loin-eloth, presented by the host to each male guest
at a memorial-feast; worn over the ordinary loin-cloth (vide No. 486), during the dancing which takes place throughout the night. Those worn at Car Nicobar differ but slightly from the ordinary neng (vide No. 486), having usually merely a border of white chintz added to the invariable Turkey-red. The women, who make this and the 10e-ta-wia (vide No. 161), charge for their labor at the rate of about 1 dollar (or Rs. 2) for ten, the employer providing the materials. A good sewer
can make two of these garments in one day. 161 (C). Loe-ta-wia, Ornamental skirt, presented by the hostess to each femalo guest at
a memorial-feast; worn over the ordinary skirt (vide No. 48a) during the dancing which takes place throughout the night on such occasions. At Car Nicobar the women wear either red colored bandkerchieves, or Turkey-red skirts, in addition
to the ordinary blue chinta skirts (vide No. 48a). 162 (m Fenwē. Flags, used for decorating large canoes on the occasion of memorial81). feasts. These, as well as Nos. 160 and 161, are generally of quaint desigts, the
product of the inventive talent and taste of the maker, as determined by the means at disposal.
18. Articles connected with Religious Customs. 163 (m). Hentain-kõi-pentila. Large open basket lashed to a stout post (called komching),
which is planted at the head of a grave at the time of interment. The basket, being one used by women only, is rarely seen so placed, except where a female of not less than about 18 years of age is buried. In this basket are placed various small articles which belonged to the deceased. The homyūsm and hicbih (vide No. 51), which she left, are attached to this object and, like them, are left to
moulder on the grave. 164 (m). Shani-pan or Shin-pan. V-shaped pegs used in the Central Group, when burying
a corpse. Some uneven pomber (generally 5 or 7) are fixed down across the body from head to feet, the object being to prevent the spirit of the deceased from rising and troubling the living. They are made of the Garcinia Speciosa, of which also are made paddles (vide No. 3), outrigger pegs (vide No. 2) and fighting-sticks
(vide No. 28). 165 (w). Hentā-kõi. Carved figures, or painted wooden-or spathe-screens, representing
real or mythical animals, birds, or fishes, also models of ships, canoes, ladders, etc. The execution of these and other carvings and paintings by the Nicobarese, though crude, not unfrequently displays a fair amount of talent. Kareau (ride No. 152) at certain periods also serve as hentā-kõi. They are made at times of sickness at the direction of the Shaman (menlūana), with the object of discovering and frightening away the bad iwi (i.e., the evil spirits), which have caused the sickness. If the patient recovers, the hontā-kõi is regarded with favour and retained for future service; but if the patient dies, it is thrown away into the jungle. The figure of a ladder (halak), when carved for this purpose, is intended for the nse of the Menlūana's spirit to climb up and discover whether the malicious spirit is in the air; while the model of a canoe or ship is to enable his spirit to search among the neighbouring coast-villages or islands. The figures usually carved, punctured (on an Orania spathe), or painted, are a mermaid (shawala), merman (shamiral), gar-fish (ilū), iguana (huyo), fish-eagle (kalang), a mythical animal with human face and back like stortoise (called kalipàu, and declared to exist in certain
