CHAP. XVI. MORE SIMPLE PROCESSIONS. 417 



was placed erect in the chamber of the tomb ; and 

 the sister or nearest relation, embracing it, com- 

 menced a funeral dirge, calHng on her relative with 

 every expression of tenderness, extolling his virtues, 

 and bewailing her own loss. In the mean time the 

 high priest presented a sacrifice of incense and liba- 

 tion, with offerings of cakes and other customary 

 gifts, for the deceased ; and the men and women 

 without continued the ululation, thro vying dust upon 

 their heads, and making other manifestations of 

 grief. 



Many funerals were conducted in a more simple 

 manner ; the procession consisting merely of the 

 mourners and priests, with the hearse conveyed, 

 as usual, on a sledge drawn by two or three oxen, 

 and by several men, who aided in pulling the 

 rope. The priest who wore the leopard skin dress 

 and who performed the sacrifice, was in attendance, 

 burning incense and pouring out a libation as he 

 w'ent; and behind him walked a functionary of an 

 inferior grade, clad in a simple robe, extending a 

 little below the knees and standino; out from the 

 body. In form it was not altogether unlike a 

 modern Abbaieh, and was made of some stiff sub- 

 stance, with two holes in front, through which the 

 arms passed, in order to enable him to hold a long 

 taper. * At the head and foot of the hearse was a 

 female, who generally clasped one arm with her 

 hand in token of grief, her head being bound with 



* I believe this to be a taper or torch. Jldc Plate 83. 

 VOL. II, — Second Series. E E 



