34 FUNERAL Ue 
Vaunerdl. and the Soosoes, an African tribe, often inter the dead termingled his praises with thei 
wailings. Hisfriends Funeral. 
1" in the streets of their villages; but most commonly and relatives, all clothed in black, jined in the proces- a 
sng on ey the place of sepulture is at some distance. The Jews _ sion; and also his sons with their headsveiled from public Cuto™* 
and Ro.  Duried their dead; and the same was done by the 
view, and his daughters bareheaded, with dishevelled "; no. 
mans. 
Greeks and Romans their contemporaries, who prac- 
tised superstitious ceremonies on the occasion. . So in- 
timate a resemblance was observed by the two latter, 
the one of which derived the greater part of their 
customs from the other, that the same illustrations may 
explain the funerals of both. The Romans, however, 
improved several of those known among the Greeks; 
and from the greater number of historians which have 
been preserved, we are better acquainted with them. 
When a person expired, his body was washed with warm 
water, anointed with aromatic substances, or embalm- 
ed; and each of the members had a particular unguent. 
Jt was shrouded in fine linen, which was white with the 
Greeks, and black with the Romans; or the latteremploy- 
ed a common white toga. If the deceased was a distin- 
guished person, he was clothed in his costume of ceremo- 
ny, kept seven days during the necessary preparations for 
the funeral, and exposed on a state couch in the vesti- 
bule of the house, with his feet towards the door, at 
which were. placed branches of the cypress or pine, 
according to his rank, In this we are able to trace the 
origin of the mutes at modern funerals, stationed at the 
door, with black plumes mounted on poles. _ A guard 
was always placed beside the body, to prevent the com- 
mission of any theft; but if it was that of a person of 
the first consequence, there were only young boys to 
drive away the flies. The seven days being elapsed, a 
herald publicly announced that the time of the funeral 
had arrived, and invited the attendance of all those who 
chose to assist. None, however, except the friends or 
relatives of private individuals did so; but public. offi- 
cers, or the people at large, attended, if the deceased had 
rendered services to the state. The body, according to 
a law ascribed to Solon, was carried out by the Greeks 
before sunrise, which was particularly adhered to in the 
obsequies of the young, in order that the luminary of day 
might not throw his light on such a melancholy specta- 
cle as their untimely end.. The deceased reposed on a 
bier, ornamented in proportion to his rank,.crowned 
with a wreath of flowers, and having his face exposed, 
unless when it had been distorted in death. The custom 
of crowning with flowers, however, was not peculiar to 
the Romans. Several nations have been profuse in the 
use of them, and have also employed many varieties, 
Among the earlier Christians, it was customary to carry 
evergreens before the deceased to his grave: and even 
so late as the 17th century, cypress garlands were in 
great estimation at the funerals of the higher ranks, and 
rosemary and bay at those of the lower. Dionysius Ha- 
licarnassus relates, that at the death of the daughter of 
Virginius, the women and virgins left their houses, de- 
ploring her fate, and some threw flowers and garlands on 
er couch. A parade and procession followed,, of torch- 
bearers, musicians, and theattendant relatives, and among 
the Romans there was amimic, whose province it was to 
wear the same habit, and represent the same manners as 
the deceased. His own bust, along with the bust of his 
relations, was carried on an elevated platform, and his 
spoils in war or insignia of honour were likewise exhibi- 
ted. Busts, however, were not borne before persons of 
Jow origin, nor before those whohad been condemned for 
any crime, though they had been invested with dignities. 
Next followed hired.mourners, women whose em loy~ 
ment was to lament the deceased, and who lavis ly ine 
hair, 
was conveyed to the place of sepulture, or to the: 
pile, for inhumation and cremation were equally-prac= 
tised both by the Greeks and Romans: only: the latter, 
being a much more expensive ceremony, was’ particu« 
larly reserved for wealthier ns. The origi 
spot of interment was probably not far from their usual 
dwelling; but afterwards the Greeks selected one at 
a distance, which is invariably done by tribes removin 
from their primitive state. Plato says, the bodies 
persons deceased should be conveyed to situations use- 
less for other purposes, ‘ because the’ natural fertility 
of the earth is not to be impaired either by the dead or 
the living.” But they were careful always to es the. 
head towards the east, while other nations are indiffer= 
ent about the position; and the Christians uniformly 
lay it to the west. Thus in the accidental discovery of 
cemeteries in Britain, of which no memorial remains, 
we can ascertain whether they have been used anterior. 
to the introduction of Christianity, by the head lying 
to the west or otherwise. The laws of the twelve ta~ 
bles prohibited interment within the city of Rome ; and 
therefore cemeteries were prepared in the fields, or near: 
the high-ways, and often consisted of brick or stone 
buildings, with a number of niches, whence they were 
called Columbarium. Many minor ceremonies took 
lace with these two nations, such as inhaling the dying 
reath of the deceased, as if to receive his wes the _ 
nearest relation first closing and again opening his eyes, 
and putting a coin in hismiduth 40 pay the freight to. 
Charon across the Stygian ferry. These customs are now) 
universally abrogated, from Greece being ied by. 
Mahaunetens and Christians, who practise on en 
ceremonies ; and from the Roman territories being in< 
habited by Roman Catholics only. . tolodia¥ 
A greater portion of the surface of 
bably 
Their funerals are conducted with much solemnity by: 
their priests or Imams, and are attended by the fri 
and relations of the deceased; but in general, the body. 
of males is accompanied by males only, and those of fe~ 
males by their own sex. The extinction of life is fol- 
lowed by immediate pi tions for interment ; and. 
this proceeds from an idea, that if the bliss which 
awaits the true believer is merited by the deceased, not 
an instant should be lost in conveying him to the ceme~ 
tery; should it be otherwise, it is incumbent on. every 
good Mussulman to discharge himself as speedily as 
possible from the service of the wicked. This ipi« 
tation, though not common, occurs among er nae 
tions: in some, it origi from the necessity of 
immediate interment in hot climates; in others, it is 
an established custom, which cannot be traced to any 
certain source ; but it is so great, as to admit of very ~ 
little doubt, that many ms are committed to the 
earth before life has fled. A few hours after dissolu- 
tion, the body, having been previously washed with milk 
and water, or with water only, is placed on a bier with 
the face uncovered, and carried with hasty steps to the 
grave. As Mahomet has declared that whoever shall 
carry a dead body forty paces towards the place: of 
sepulture will thereby expiate a deadly sin, it is usual 
for all ranks to tender their. assistance on meeting a fus 
and barefooted, attired in white. Thus the body mans. 
the globe is pro- Customs 
by those who profess the religion of Mahome- 
Mahomet, than by those who entertain any other tenets, tans 
