 In Tonga, the monarch is still considered so sacred that no one may touch him.Thus the "Haa Tufunga" clan is charged with funeral duties for though they claim descent from a brother ("Māliepō") of the first Tongan king, they are not part of the Tongan ranking system because of their Sāmoan ancestry.It is headed by Lauaki, who serves as he is the royal undertaker, and only his men, known as the "nima tapu" ("sacred hands") may touch the dead king's remains.