CURIOUS FUNERAL CEREMONIES. 833 



who rode by its side, followed by the favorite horse of the deceased, 

 and an attendant carrying his arms plated with silver, or a banner in- 

 scribed with his epitaph, constituted an imposing head to the long pro- 

 cession of black- or purple-clad mourners and guests. The services in 

 the church were set off in a corresponding style. Many persons spent 

 the income of weeks for prayers to be said for the deceased, to drape 

 churches in black, to dress a legion of servants in mourning, or to fur- 

 nish the torches for the funeral ; and sometimes large collections of 

 eulogies and verses were published to commemorate the good deeds 

 which the dead man had performed in life. Funerals are told of that 

 cost from ten to twelve thousand gulden — an immense sum in those 

 days. The extravagance of these observances finally reached such a 

 height that an ordinance had to be promulgated in 1747, limiting the 

 expenditure that could be allowed. 



In the grave-yards of the Palovzes, in the counties of Borsod and 

 Heves, may be seen here and there pyramidal monuments of stone, with 

 niches in their sides for images of the saints. They are a survival from 

 the ancient heathen altars of these people, the Rumanians of old, which 

 were erected in honor of the sun-god ; and to this day also may be 

 seen on many of the houses of the Palovzes the symbol of the pyramid 

 with Baal's eye, the use of which has come down from generation to 

 generation, without the peasants knowing what it means. Children 

 who die still-born, or without having received baptism, are buried 

 as near as possible to the pyramidal monuments. It is a part of the 

 folk-lore of the Palovzes that the little ones who are laid to rest near 

 these Baal-pillars will at the end of seven years come out from their 

 graves, when, if some good soul will come near them and utter the 

 baptismal formula, they will immediately become little angels and go 

 to heaven ; but, if the baptism is not given, they will have to wait 

 seven years longer for another opportunity to be released. Many 

 other reminiscences of Baal-worship survive among these people. 

 The mother who has lost a young child wraps her head, as a sign of 

 mourning, in a fiery red cloth. The former prevalence of cremation is 

 indicated in the custom of burning the clothes which the deceased 

 wore last. The tear-jugs of the ancients may still be found in the 

 houses, of exactly the old form and size, but destined to a quite 

 different j^urpose. Another peculiar custom at the funeral feast 

 is to lay a plate with salt and bread upon the table, for the use 

 of the soul of the departed one, if it should appear in the circle of 

 friends. 



The Servians put lighted candles in the hands of their dead, and 

 a saint's image on their breast, and set lights around the bier. They 

 leave all the furniture in the house undisturbed, so that the released 

 soul shall not lose its way. For several days food and drink are 

 taken to the grave. 



The Roumanians preserve many of the customs of the Romans, 

 VOL. XXV. — 53 



