404 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XVI. 



cording to the friendship and connection subsisting 

 between them, as "O my master," *'0 lord of the 

 house," *' O my friend," "O my dear, my soul, my 

 eyes;" andmany of the neighbours, as well as the 

 friends of the family, join in the lamentation. 

 Hired mourning women are also engaged, who 

 utter cries of grief, and praise the virtues of the 

 deceased ; while the females of the house rend 

 their clothes, beat themselves, and make other 

 violent demonstrations of sorrow. A sort of fu- 

 neral dirge* is also chanted by the mourning 

 women to the sound of a tambourine, from which 

 the tinkling plates have been removed. 



This continues until the funeral takes place, 

 which, if the person died in the morning, is per- 

 formed the same day ; but if in the afternoon or 

 evening, it is deferred until the morning, the lament- 

 ations being continued all night. Previous to, or 

 immediately after, the departure of the vital spark, 

 they take care to close the eyes and mouth t; 

 which is always looked upon as a tender and du- 

 tiful office worthy of the kind feelings of a sincere 

 friend; and soon after the mourners have collected, 

 the body is given over to the moghussel (or 

 washer), who, placing it on a bench, the eyes being 

 closed, and the mouth bound up, washes it, the 

 barber having previously })erformed his office. 



In tlie mean time prayers are read in an ad- 

 joining apartment by i\\Q fekkees, wlio officiate as 



* Like the " incondituni (|uotlthim cariiion," mentioned by Quintus 

 Curtiiis, sum; l)y m;itroiis and virgins at tlic temple of Animon. Vide 

 supra, Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 152. 



f As did the Romans. Virg. JEn. ix. 487. &c. 



