ABSTRACT
The Kanthá Bráhman attends at the funerals of all high caste Hindustánís in Dacca, preparing the Pi]n]da, or obsequial ball of rice, and providing the plantain, sesamum seed, and barley to be put in the hands of the corpse before cremation begins. He, too, is the only person who can repeat certain Mantras, or prayers, over the pyre.
