All was now over, and the natives began to disperse, upon which the wild and piercing wail of the mourners became redoubled.
[Note 82: This appears to be a very general custom, and to be of Eastern origin.

Catlin describes it as always being attended to at the disposal of the dead by the American Indians.

In South Africa, however, Moffat states (p.

307), "that the corpse is put exactly facing the north."] Upon the mounds, or tumuli, over the graves, huts of bark, or boughs, are generally erected to shelter the dead from the rain; they are also frequently wound round with netting.

Many graves being usually in one vicinity, and an elevated dry place being selected, the cemeteries often present a picturesque appearance.