BOOK III. CHAP. III. 421 



reverfe of our Englifh ceremony. The only real mourners are the 

 hulband, wife, or very near relations of the deceafed; yet even 

 thefe fometimes unite their voices to the general clamour or fong, 

 whilfl: the tears flow involuntarily down their cheeks. Every fu- 

 neral is a kind of feflival -, at which the greater part of the com- 

 pany aflume an air of joy and unconcern ; and, together with their 

 iingnig, dancing, and mufical inflruments, cotifpire to drown all 

 fenfe of affiidtion in the minds of the real mourners. The burthen 

 of this merry dirge is filled with encomiums on the deceafed, with 

 hopes and wiflies for his happinefs in his new ftate. Sometime* 

 the coffin- bearers, efpecially if they carry it on their heads, pretend 

 that the corpfe will not proceed to the grave, notwithftanding the 

 exertion of their utmofl ftrength to urge it forwards. They then 

 move to different huts, till they come to one, the owner of which, 

 they know, has done fome injury to, or been much difliked by, he 

 deceafed in his life-time. Here they exprefs fome words of indig- 

 nation on behalf of the dead man; then knock at the coffin, and 

 try to footh and pacify the corpfe : at length, after much perfua- 

 fion, it begins to grow more paffive, and fuft'ers them to carry it on, 

 without further flruggle, to the place of repofe. At other times, 

 the corpfe takes a fudden and obffinate averlion to be iupported on 

 the head, preferring the arms; nor does it peaceably give up the 

 difpute, until the bearers think proper to comply with its humour. 

 The corpfe being interred, the grave is but flightly overfpread with 

 earth. Some fcratch up the loofe mould, with their backs turned 

 to the grave, and caft it behind them between their legs, after the 

 manner of cats which have juft exonerated. This, they fay, is done^ 

 to prevent the deceafed perfon from follo'wing them home. When 

 the deceafed is a married woman, the hutband lets his beard re- 

 main unfliaved, and appears rather negligent in his attire, for the 

 ipace of a month ; at the expiration of which, a fowl is drefled ac 

 his houfe, with fome mefTes of good broth, and he proceeds, ac- 

 companied by his friends, to the grave. Then begins a fong, pur- 

 porting, that the deceafed is now in the enjoyment of compleat fe- 

 licity ; and that they are afl'embled to rejoice at her ffate of blifs,. 

 and perform the lafh offices of duty and friendfhip. They then lay 

 a confiderable heap of earth over the grave, which is called co- 



vering 



