107 is burned, all his nephews and closest relatives gather, as well as the leading figures of the kingdom and the confidants of the late king; the corpse lies in state for three days awaiting them, and they clarify there and then whether he died naturally or was killed, so that they can take any necessary measures, and then after these three days, they burn him and weep, and when his body has burned, they shave themselves from the tops of their heads to their feet, leaving only their eyelashes and eyebrows. Everyone from the crown prince to the last in the line to this gentile throne does this, and then they clean that black from betel from their teeth, which nobody will chew for the following thirteen days, and if anyone is caught chewing it during this period, they cut off his lips as a punishment. And during these thirteen days, the crown prince does not rule nor govern, nor is he proclaimed king until this period has ended, while he waits to see if there is a rival claim. At the end of this period, the leading figures join to make him swear to honour all the laws of the previous king; to pay all his debts, and to work to gain what others have lost. His oath is given in the following manner: they place a bare sword in his left hand and he places his right hand over an oil lamp, lit by many wicks, and inside it there is a gold ring which he touches with hisfingers. Thus, he swears his oath on that oil lamp and gold to defend everything with that sword. Once this has been done, they throw some grains of rice over his head and make a great celebration, worshipping the sun. Then, some counts, whom they call cahimal, along with the next crown prince and other heirs swear an oath on the same lamp to serve and help this king and be loyal and true to him. During these thirteen days in which they are waiting for this ceremony, a cahimal governs the realm. He is akin to the Chief Secretary of the Realm, and this position and status is his by right; he is also the Chief Treasurer of the Realm and the king cannot take anything from the Treasury without his presence, nor does he take anything from it except when in great need and on the former’s and others’ advice; this
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