Why Dead People Are Buried  a folktale from Nigeria  edited by
D. L. Ashliman  In the beginning of the world when the Creator
had made men and women and the animals, they all lived together
in the creation land. The Creator was a big chief, past all men,
and being very kindhearted, was very sorry whenever any one
died. So one day he sent for the dog, who was his head
messenger, and told him to go out into the world and give his
word to all people that for the future whenever any one died the
body was to be placed in the compound, and wood ashes were to be
thrown over it; that the dead body was to be left on the ground,
and in twenty-four hours it would become alive again.  When the
dog had traveled for half a day he began to get tired; so as he
was near an old woman's house he looked in, and seeing a bone
with some meat on it he made a meal off it, and then went to
sleep, entirely forgetting the message which had been given him
to deliver.  After a time, when the dog did not return, the
Creator called for a