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Show ?1 maintained was evident in the way many of these people took part in the burial rites for his uncle. After the preliminary welcome and response would come the festivities, which often carried on for several days and nights. Roa dreaded the thought of all the singing, dancing and soeech making. He realized that the purpose was mainly to drive away evil spirits which might be lurking about, but also to send off the spirit of the deceased properly, because he was going to Ko_ te. Pp_ te_ hokia taiao, the spirit world from which none return. This bothered Roa more than anything; he knew his uncle would never return to this pa, but he hoped with all his heart that he might somehow see and talk with him again in the next world. Roa and all the People slept together in the death house. The next of kin slept closest to the deceased. Roa's uncle had never taken a companion wife, so his brother Turi slept closest to his coffin as the nearest relative. It was the fourth day when the ceremony moved to the burial snot. The body was lowered slowly Into the earth facing the East. A ritual was then recited which would forward the departing spirit into the spirit world. It was termed a tuki wairua. This |