Papers, notes and correspondence on death, funeral, soul, etc. including material used in Religion and folklore of Northern India, and draft chapters and articles.
Various papers. Various sizes. 25.5 x 20 cm unless stated otherwise.
Handwritten and typewritten. Handwritten unless stated otherwise.
The numbering has followed papers originally pinned or attached together, and loose.
Presented by Mr J.E. Crooke, 11 Mar. 1955.
/1 ‘The question of the orientation of the corpse at burial or cremation …’. 16 leaves
/2 Orientation of the corpse, head north, feet south: appendix A. 2 leaves. 32 x 20 cm (leaf 1); 10 x 20.5 cm (leaf 2)
/3 Burial or cremation, the corpse lying head south, feet north: appendix B. 1 p. 32 x 20.5 cm
/4 The orientation of the dead in India. 1-13, 13a, 14, 14a, 15-19 leaves. 26 x 10 cm (leaf 13a); 15 x 9 cm (leaf 14a)
/5 The orientation of the dead in India. 10 leaves, notes on reverse leaves 7-10
/6 ‘The question of the orientation of the corpse at cremation or burial has become a subject of active controversy …’. 30 pp., [pp. 4, 16, 18, 22, 26, 30 blank]. Additional to the 30 pp.: 1a, 3a-c, 2 notes attached to p. 5, 1 note attached to p. 6, 1 note attached to pp. 10, 10a, 11a; 5 notes attached to p. 14, and 14a. 21 x 13.5 cm (leaf 1a); 15.5 x 13 cm (leaf 3a); 7.5 x 13 cm (leaf 3b); 15 x 11 cm (leaf 3c); 12 x 18 cm (leaf 10a); 8.5 x 16 cm (leaf 11a); 11 x 13.5 cm (leaf 14a)
/7 Castes which bury head N. feet S. 2 leaves. 28 x 19 cm
/8 Panjab. 1 p. 28 x 16.5 cm
/9 Madras. 1 p. 24.5 x 20.5 cm
/10 Burial or cremation head south, feet north. 1 p. 31 x 20 cm
/11 ‘The practice of burying head N. feet S. is observed in North India …’. 3 leaves. 33.5 x 21 cm
/12 Burial facing north. 5 leaves. 35 x 15 cm
/13 Head facing west. 1 leaf. 25 x 21 cm
/14 Head facing E. 2 leaves. 25.5 x 21 cm. 2 notes attached to leaf 2
/15 Articles placed with dead. 1 p. 1 note attached
/16 Spirit abiding in stones. 8 pp. 6 notes attached to p. 8
/17 Pillar stones. 2 pp. 7 notes attached to p. 1, 9 notes attached to p. 2
/18 Headless skeleton. 1p.
/19 Ship burial. 5 pp.
/20 Quartz pebbles, [amulets: worldwide]. 34 pp., [pp. 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 blank]. 27 x 21 cm (p. 30). Additional: 4 notes pasted to p. 8
/21 [Practice of burying objects and offerings with the dead]. 20 pp., [p. 18 blank]. 13.5 x 12.5 cm (p. 6a); 6.5 x 10.5 cm (p. 6b); 12.5 x 8.5 cm (p. 6c); 8.5 x 11.5 cm (p. 6d); 9 x 10 cm (p. 10a); 13 x 10 cm (p. 11a); 13 x 10 cm (p. 11b); 15.5 x 15.5 cm (p. 11c); 7 x 10 cm (p. 14a); 12.5 x 10 cm; (p. 14b); 9 x 10 cm (p. 15a); 20 x 15 cm (p. 15b); 10 x 9 cm (pp. 15c, 15d); 13 x 10 cm (p. 16a); 6 x 10 cm (p. 19a); 13 x 10 cm (p. 19b); 20.5 x 14.5 cm (p. 19c). Additional attachments: 6a-d to p. 6; 10a to p. 10; 11a-c to p. 11; 14a-b to p. 14; 15a-d to p. 15; 16a to p. 16; 19a-c to p. 19
/22 Death; death rites; disposal of the dead among non-Aryan tribes of India. 137 leaves. Notes on reverse of leaves 3, 4, 21, 26-7, 34-5, 44, 53, 67, 70-1, 82, 85, 118, 120, 123, 125, 127
/23 Magic of death. 2 pp.
/24 Soul abiding in trees. 4 pp. 1 note pasted on p. 1
/25 Embalming. 7 pp. 1 note pasted on p. 1, 12 notes pasted on p. 5, 6 notes pasted on p. 6, 1 note pasted on p. 7
/26 Barring the ghost. 20 pp., [p. 14 blank]. 28.5 x 21.5 cm (pp. 9-12). Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 1, 2 notes attached to pp. 8 and 12, 9 notes pasted on p. 9, 11 notes pasted on p. 10, 14 notes pasted on p. 11
/27 Closing eyes and mouth of corpse. 1 p. Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 1
/28 Death masks. 4 pp. [p. 2 blank]. 28 x 21 cm (pp. 3-4). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 1, 10 notes pasted on p. 3, 6 notes pasted on p. 4
/29 Corpse removed by a special door. 4 pp. [p. 2 blank]. Additions: 4 notes pasted on p. 1, 1 note pasted on p. 4
/30 Articles which scare ghosts. 2 pp. Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 2
/31 Looking back. 2 pp. Additions: 2 notes attached to p. 1, 3 notes attached to p. 2
/32 Ghost scaring. 2 pp.
/33 Earth thrown on grave. 12 notes pasted on 1 p.
/34 Death bell. 1 p.
/35 Measuring the corpse. 1 p. Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 1
/36 Funeral games. 12 pp. 28 x 22 cm (pp. 7-10). Additions: 1 note attached to p. 4, 10 notes pasted on p. 7, 8 notes pasted on p. 8, 12 notes pasted on p. 9, 18 notes pasted on p. 10, 15 notes pasted on p. 11, 3 notes pasted on p. 12
/37 House burned down after death. 5 pp. 20 x 10.5 cm (pp. 3-4). Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 1, 1 note pasted on p. 3, 2 notes pasted on pp. 4 and 5
/38 Preventing spirit of mourner remaining behind with soul of dead. 1 p.
/39 Gunfiring at death. 1 p.
/40 Procession of corpse. 14 pp. [pp. 8, 12 blank]. 28 x 22 cm (pp. 3-14). 5 notes pasted on p. 3, 8 notes pasted on p. 4, 15 notes pasted on p. 5, 10 notes pasted on pp. 6 and 9, 11 notes pasted on p. 7, 12 notes pasted on p. 10, 2 notes pasted on pp. 11 and 14, 6 notes pasted on p. 13
/41 Keeping corpse unmutilated. 8 pp. Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 6, 4 notes pasted on p. 7, 1 note attached to p. 8
/42 Cremation and burial. 84 pp. [pp. 4, 6, 38, 54, 70, 74, 76, 78 blank]. 20 x 16 cm (pp. 3-6); 20 x 11.5 cm (pp. 37-8); 31 x 17.5 cm (pp. 47-8); 11 x 10.5 cm (pp. 49-50); 32 x 20.5 cm (pp. 51-2); 17 x 10 cm (pp. 53-4); 23.5 x 15.5 cm (pp. 57-60); 29 x 18.5 cm (pp. 61-4); 20 x 8.5 cm (pp. 77-8). Typewritten (p. 48). Additions: 1 note pasted on pp. 2 and 71, 7 notes pasted on pp. 36, 59 and 65, 3 notes pasted on p. 46, 10 notes pasted on p. 57, 8 notes pasted on p. 58, 11 notes pasted on p. 60, 14 notes pasted on pp. 61, 64 and 68, 18 notes pasted on p. 62, 12 notes pasted on p. 63, 13 notes pasted on p. 66, 15 notes pasted on p. 67, 2 notes pasted on p. 84
/43 Children burial. 7 pp. 20 x 16 cm (pp. 5-6); 22.5 x 7.5 (p. 7). Additions: 9 notes pasted on p. 3, 2 notes pasted on p. 4, 3 notes pasted on p. 6
/44 Separate soul. 6 pp.
/45 Dreams – soul departing in a dream. 3 pp. 20 x 11 cm (p. 3)
/46 House for the ghost. 24 pp. [pp. 10, 12, 20 blank]. 20 x 11 cm (pp. 11-12); 28 x 21.5 cm (pp. 13-22); 22.5 x 8 cm (pp. 23-4). 12 notes pasted on pp. 13 and 18, 5 notes pasted on pp. 14 and 16, 4 notes pasted on p. 15, 10 notes pasted on p. 17, 17 notes pasted on p. 19, 6 notes pasted on p. 21, 7 notes pasted on p. 22, 1 note pasted on p. 23
/47 Soul remaining about place of death. 7 pp. Additions. 3 notes pasted on pp. 6 and 7
/48 Ashes, disposing of. 6 pp. 24 x 15 cm (pp. 3-4). 13 notes pasted on p. 1, 17 notes pasted on p. 2, 6 notes pasted on p. 3, 8 notes pasted on p. 4, 3 notes pasted on pp. 5 and 6
/49 Bones, ghost remaining in. 9 pp. 20 x 11 cm (pp. 5-6). Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 8
/50 Infection coming from corpse. 2 pp.
/51 Mourning formally. 18 pp. [pp. 4, 10, 14 blank]. 20 x 10.5 cm (pp. 3-4); 28.5 x 21 cm (pp. 5-14); 29.5 x 20 cm (pp. 15-16); 20.5 x 16 cm (pp. 17-18). Typewritten pp. 15-16. Additions: 1 note pasted on p. 3, 9 notes pasted on pp. 5 and 12, 10 notes pasted on p. 6, 8 notes pasted on pp. 7, 8 and 11, 6 notes pasted on p. 9, 14 notes pasted on p. 13
/52 Mourning costume. 2 pp. 7 notes pasted on p. 2
/53 Mourning disguise. 3 pp. [p. 2 blank]. 20 x 11 cm (pp. 1-2)
/54 Mourning dress. 1 p. 5 notes pasted on p. 1
/55 Mourning taboo. 18 pp. [pp. 8, 10 blank]. 20 x 10.5 cm (pp. 7-10); 28.5 x 21 cm (pp. 11-18). Additions: 2 notes pasted on pp. 7 and 8, 8 notes pasted on pp. 11 and 12, 10 notes pasted on pp. 13 and 14, 19 notes pasted on p. 15, 13 notes pasted on p. 16, 14 notes pasted on p. 17
/56 Death taboo. 10 pp. [pp. 6, 8, 10 blank]. 8 notes pasted on p. 4
/57 Sexual intercourse prohibited during mourning. 3 pp. [p. 2 blank]. 22 x 10 cm (p. 3). 3 notes pasted on p. 1
/58 Fasting in mourning. 7 pp. [pp. 4, 6 blank]. 20 x 11 cm (pp. 5-6); 28.5 x 21 cm (p. 7). Additions: 4 notes pasted on p. 2, 5 notes pasted on p. 3, 10 notes pasted on p. 7
/59 No fire kept in house of mourning. 1 p.
/60 Taboo of dead man returning after obsequies. 1 p. 3 notes pasted on p. 1
/61 Abstaining from washing in mourning. 2 pp.
/62 Straddha. 1 p. 11 notes pasted on p. 1
/63 Mourning [index]. 6 pp.
/64 Modes of disposal of dead. 16 pp. [p. 12 blank]. 20 x 19 cm (pp. 7-8); 20 x 11 cm (pp. 9-10). Additions: 7 notes pasted on pp. 7 and 8, 1 note pasted on p. 15
/65 Disinterring corpse. 20 pp. [p. 15 blank]. 28 x 21 cm (pp. 11-18). Additions: 9 notes pasted on pp. 10 and 11, 7 notes pasted on p. 12, 12 notes pasted on p. 13, 10 notes pasted on p. 14, 1 note pasted on p. 16, 4 notes pasted on p. 17, 13 notes pasted on p. 18
/66 Grave concealed. 11 pp. [pp. 4, 6, 10 blank]. 20 x 11 cm (pp. 5-6); 28.5 x 21 cm (pp. 7-10); 19.5 x 8 cm (p. 11). Additions: 7 notes pasted on p. 7, 14 notes pasted on p. 8, 1 note pasted on p. 9
/67 Posture in burial. 12 pp. [pp. 6, 10 blank]. Additions: 12 notes pasted on p. 12, 7 notes pasted on p. 3, 11 notes pasted on p. 4, 5 notes pasted on p. 5, 10 notes pasted on p. 7, 15 notes pasted on p. 8, 13 notes pasted on p. 9
/68 Shelf burial. 7 pp. [p. 6 blank]. Additions: 6 notes pasted on p. 4, 4 notes pasted on p. 5, 1 note pasted on p. 7
/69 Ghost hunt. 5 pp. 22 x 8 cm (p. 5). Additions: 1 note attached to pp. 1, 4 and 5
/70 Suicides buried at crossroads. 5 pp. [p. 4 blank]. 23 x 8 cm (p. 5). 2 notes pasted on p. 3
/71 Cult of the dead. 1 p.
/72 Giving free egress to departing soul. 16 pp. [pp. 4, 6 blank]. 28 x 21 cm (pp. 7-14). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 3, 12 notes pasted on pp. 7 and 12, 9 notes pasted on p. 8, 8 notes pasted on p. 9, 7 notes pasted on p. 10, 10 notes pasted on p. 11, 15 notes pasted on p. 13, 5 notes pasted on p. 14
/73 [Unattached miscellaneous notes found in the manuscript at this point]. 2 pp. 12 notes attached to p. 1, 6 notes attached to p. 2
/74 Ghosts friendly. 23 pp. [pp. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 blank]. 20 x 10 cm (pp. 3-4, 7-8); 23 x 8 cm (pp. 9-10); 28 x 20.5 cm (pp. 19-20). Additions: 1 note pasted on pp. 5 and 20, 8 notes pasted on p. 11, 6 notes pasted on p. 13, 3 notes pasted on p. 17, 12 notes pasted on p. 19, 4 notes pasted on p. 21, 5 notes pasted on p. 22
/75 Death wail. 7 pp. [p. 6 blank]. 23.5 x 8 cm (pp. 5-7). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 1, 4 notes pasted on p. 3, 13 notes pasted on p. 4, 3 notes pasted on p. 5
/76 Ghost – savage conception of. 9 pp. [p. 8 blank]. 21 x 17 cm (pp. 3-4); 28.5 x 21 cm (pp. 5-6); 18.5 x 8 cm (pp. 7-8); 20.5 x 13 cm (p. 9). 11 notes pasted on p. 5, 7 notes pasted on p. 6
/77 Ghosts malignant. 17 pp. [pp. 12, 14 blank]. 20.5 x 10 cm (pp. 11-12). Additions: 2 notes pasted on pp. 1 and 13
/78 [Unattached miscellaneous notes found in manuscript at this point]. 1 p. 24.5 x 12.5 cm. 4 notes attached to p. 1
/79 Ghost of pregnant woman malicious. 6 pp. 1 note pasted on p. 6
/80 Churel. 12 pp. [pp. 2, 4 blank]. 20 x 10.5 cm (pp. 1-2); 28.5 x 21 cm (pp. 5-12). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 3, 3 notes pasted on p. 5, 9 notes pasted on p. 6, 7 notes pasted on p. 7, 4 notes pasted on p. 8, 12 notes pasted on p. 9, 10 notes pasted on p. 10, 1 note pasted on p. 11, 4 notes pasted on p. 12
/81 Ghosts of unburned dead. 4 pp.
/82 Cremation of a pilgrim. 1 p. 28.5 x 21 cm. 2 notes pasted on p. 1
/83 Burial in effigy. 1 p. 21 x 10 cm
/84 Cenotaphs. 6 pp. 28 x 20 cm (pp. 3-4, 6); 32 x 19.5 cm (p. 5). 14 notes pasted on p. 3, 1 note attached to p. 4, 2 notes pasted on p. 5, 10 notes pasted on p. 6
/85 Post mortem marriage. 6 pp. [pp. 4, 5 blank]. 28.5 x 21.5 cm (pp. 3-6). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 1, 3 notes pasted on p. 2, 12 notes pasted on p. 3
/86 [Index to MS 126/81-5]. 13 pp. [pp. 2, 4 blank]. 20 x 13 cm (pp. 5-6)
/87 Chap. xxxiii, Magical methods. 7 leaves
/88 Chap. xxxiv, Magical detection of thieves. 4 pp. [p. 2 blank]
/89 [Index to notes]. 7 pp. [p. 2 blank]
/90 Immediate and deferred funeral rites. 9 pp. [pp. 2, 8 blank]. 27.5 x 20 cm (pp. 7-8); 19 x 12 cm (p. 9). Additions: 6 notes pasted on p. 1, 9 notes pasted on p. 7
/91 [Unattached miscellaneous notes found in manuscript at this point]. 1 p. 7 notes attached to p. 1
/92 Tribal or village cemeteries. 8 pp. [pp. 4, 6 blank]. 20.5 x 11.5 cm (pp. 5-6); 28 x 20 cm (pp. 7-8). Additions: 2 notes pasted on p. 1, 13 notes pasted on p. 7, 4 notes pasted on p. 8
/93 Orientation of corpse. 1 envelope containing a paper and unattached miscellaneous notes. Upper wrapper of envelope retained only. 21.5 x 9 cm
.1 Hindu custom head N, head pointing south, feet pointing to native village, burial lying on back , north or south, [laid on side, head to south]. 19 pp.
.2 [220 unattached miscellaneous notes found in manuscript at this point]. 16 pp. 25 x 22 cm (pp. 1-14); 25 x 17.5 cm (pp. 15-16). 14 notes attached to pp. 1, 2 and 9, 11 notes attached to p. 3, 13 notes attached to pp. 4 and 6, 15 notes attached to pp. 5, 7, 10 and 13, 17 notes attached to pp. 8, 12 and 14, 18 notes attached to p. 11, 10 notes attached to p. 15, 2 notes attached to p. 16
/94 H.B. Wheatley, Heatheryhaugh, Moffat, N.B. to William Crooke, 2 Feb. 1907 – discusses cremations or burials as original methods of disposing of the dead in S. India; irruption of Brahmans into Malabar; Jain influence in Malabar; Thurston’s work on S. India; disposal governed by cost as burial cheaper than cremation; ashes sent by post for consignment to the Ganges. 4 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm
/95 Samuel O. Addy, 3 Westbourne Road, Sheffield to W. Crooke, 27 Dec. 1904 – thanks for receipt of paper on ‘Primitive rite of the disposal of the dead’; dealing with English burial customs; order in time of inhumation and cremation; sitting and crouching positions at burial; Scandinavian evidence; incense cups found in British urns; burning grain in the house of mourning; corpse being taboo affects seed-crop; paper in Proceedings of Anthropological Institute; respects to Mr Hartland. 7 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm
/96 E.O. Winstedt, 230 Abingdon Road, Oxford to W. Crooke, 1 Dec. 1911 – Gypsy custom of turning clothes of corpse inside out at burial; confusion with Romany words for clothing; will try to discuss matter with older Gypsy generation; regrets cannot visit for a weekend. 2 pp. 18 x 11 cm. Additions: note by W. Crooke on wearing clothes inside out attached to letter
/97 W. Crooke to [anonymous], 27 Feb. 1912 – Hunterian lecture of Prof. A. Keith on Ipswich skeleton and burial geology; Galley Hill skull burial and geology; flat shin of Ipswich skeleton. 3 pp. 17.5 x 11 cm
/98 W. Crooke to Vincent [?], 6 Jan. 1920 – asks if he recalls Elliot Dowson reference to enclosure of certificate testifying payment of dead man’s debts into coffin of a Delhi king. 2 pp. 17 x 11 cm
/99 V.C. …? to W. Crooke, 7 Jan. 1920 – gives original reference to the Delhi king. 1 p. 18 x 11.5 cm
/100 Moses Gaster to W. Crooke, 28 Feb. 1921 – attendance at meeting of the Folk-Lore Society; troubled by eyesight; orientation of corpses in Palestine; Jews lay bodies with face towards Palestine; same practice adopted by Mohammedans from Jews; similarly the Kibla originally towards Jerusalem then Mecca; Daniel, II, 10. 2 pp. 20.5 x 12 cm. Typewritten
