"Sir Samuel Baker, in his book, 'The Explorations on the White Nile,' relates an incident where he came to a village which had two graveyards, on opposite sides of the road. On one side were the scattered bones of the dead, and on the other side mounds to indicate burial plots.
"On questioning the chief, he said: 'Yes; our honored dead have their bones exposed, as you see, but those who were of no use are put out of sight underground.'
"So the object seemed to be to keep them where the people could see them?"
"That appears to be the reason the chief gave to Baker. But there may be another reason for this custom, and I shall get Suros' views on that subject."
"Isn't there some religious meaning connected with it," asked Ralph.
"I do not think so. Here is Suros; let us question him."
As Suros approached the Professor said: "I notice that one has been put underground and the other not; why do they observe this difference?"
"We cannot honor the dead by allowing them to go back to the earth."
"Why will it do any good to honor the dead?"