Nima tapu
Encyclopedia
Nima Tapu are the Royal Undertakers for the Tonga
n royal family. It is their role to prepare the dead king
's body for burial
. Once the preparation is complete, they are not allowed to use their hands for any other purpose for the next 100 days. In earlier times the nima tapu would be strangled or have their hands cut off after preparing the king's body.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n royal family. It is their role to prepare the dead king
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
's body for burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
. Once the preparation is complete, they are not allowed to use their hands for any other purpose for the next 100 days. In earlier times the nima tapu would be strangled or have their hands cut off after preparing the king's body.