FUNERAL. 85 
neral procession. ain inarians in the strictest a Tunquinese his coffin a long time before he _Funerat. 
acceptation, no dread Aree or injury deters them speete that, A e course of anctied? it shall receive “"Y" 
from it; whence a devout Mah , even while the 
plague rages, offers his assistance, and supports, with- 
out a ion, the body of one who has died of 
it. The interment being finished, and the deceased 
placed on his right side, and turned towards Mec- 
ca, the Imam repeats a prayer, and calls him three 
his earthly remains. Its splendour is the primary con- 
sideration, and the wealthy frequently expend a great 
portion of their property in obtaining one made of some 
valuable wood, adorned with sculpture or painting, and 
decorated with inscriptions. It is not unusual for the 
children of a family, by contributing among themselves, 
times by /his name, mentioning also that of his mother, to get an elegant coffin privately made for their father, 
but without the smallest allusion to the name of his fa- or for any other near relation, and endeavour to give him 
ther; and when ini ce of her name, it is not un- an able surprise, by conveying it unexpectedly into 
usual to substitute of the Virgin Mary. This part his a ent: this mode of presenting a coffin to a pa- 
of the ceremony bears some analogy to the Conclamatio 
of the Romans, among whom it was to call 
the deceased with a loud voice, after he was laid on the 
funeral pile, or when he was a person of distinguished 
rank, to use horns or trumpets. It has likewise been 
common with many nations of the world, and is so with 
the lower classes of people in Ireland, to call loudly on 
the deceased, to interrogate him why he died, and 
whether hethad not every thing in this world that he 
could desire. With: the Romans it has been suppo- 
sed, but without any rational foundation, as designed to 
ascertain whether or not the body is inanimate; because 
instances are given of persons rising from the pile pre- 
to burn them, and returning in health to their 
The name:of the deceased Mahometan and his 
mother being pronounced, another ejaculation or prayer 
follows, and the party returns home. No weeping, or 
symptoms of distress, are seen at a funeral ; all profess 
unlimited resignation to the will of Providence: What- 
ever. s is deemed a wise di ion, which it 
would be impious to lament. Their cemeteries are of 
considerable extent, and the graves shallow and separate; 
rent is a filial act of piety. Its place is in the banquet+ 
ing chamber, as an ornamental piece of furniture, tu be 
admired by the guests of the owner, who do not fail to 
compliment him on its beauty. But when the period 
for its occupation does arrive, and a person breathes his 
last, the byestanders cover his face with a handkerchief, 
to which they believe his soul attaches itself, and it 
is carefully preserved. His body is put into the coffin, 
which still retains its original place, and along with it 
clothes, goods, and rice, to serve for his use in the next 
world. Men are clothed in seven of their best habits ; 
women in nine. The coffin is not nailed, but joined 
with a very adhesive pitch, and then entirely varnished 
over, which precludes the escape of any emanations. 
Meantime regular visits are paid to the deceased, and 
whatever be the rank of the visitor, on this occasion, he 
always holds himself inferior, at no time approaching 
the coffin without four prostrations. At every meal of 
the family, different kinds of food are offered to the de- 
ceased, of which he is entreated to partake ; and the 
principal person of the house, in pronouncing an eulogi- 
um on his character, deplores his loss to the survivors, 
for the modern European custom of interring numbers and offers unlimited rewards to heaven for his resto- 
in the same grave is unknown. However, it has not ration. The splendour of the funeral is all this time in 
been universally so in Europe; for the canons of the contemplation. Should the tangible funds of the de- 
Council of Auxerre declare, non licet mortuum super 
mortuum milti. The grave is covered with a slab, which, 
instead of being plain and flat, is perforated in the cen- 
tre, so as to admit of cypress trees being planted imme- 
diately over the body. A hollow square stone is occa- 
sionally preferred, which, being filled with earth, admits 
of the mavens trees or herbs e009 it. ee 
frequently visit the-cemeteries, and pray on the graves 
of the aoveend 3; and it is seienlanie Ciammtep eis 
widows and orphans occupied in this pious vocation. 
An opposite custom is presented in many respects 
by the Chinese and Tunquinese, whose numbers far 
ceased be inadequate, his lands are sold ; and should 
something still be wanting, his children dispose of their 
own property, or the friends and relations contribute ; 
and as a record of the greater donations is kept, he who 
is thus liberal is entitled to singular honour. Parti- 
cular solemnity is observed in transporting the body to 
the place of sepulture: the eldest son, or nearest rela- 
tive, precedes it, having his head wrapped in a faggot 
of straw, and throwing himself on the ground at re- 
peated intervals, as if to interrupt its passage ; and the 
procession is slow and long, and interrupted by many 
pauses. Much importance is attached to the place of 
/ 
eserve the exceed the inhabitants of all the European states com- 
along ined, and vie with the numbers which are under the 
unbu- sway of the Mussulman doctrines; while they have 
sepulture ; priests are consulted on the subject, and 40 
or 50 times greater price is paid for what is judged the 
most suitable, than for any other spot of land. It is 
subsisted under a regular form of administration, and’ 
preserved the same ceremonies for the lapse of thou- 
sands of years. With the latter, instead of hasty and 
precipitate interment, the body of a person deceased is 
preserved a long time, sometimes two years, in order to 
“admit of sufficient pares for his obsequies. A 
id funeral is the utmost object of ambition. In- 
viduals are content to labour their whole lives, and 
subsist in ury, that the funeral p at their 
death may be the greater. When this is conducted 
with uncommon magnificence, it forms an epoch in the 
history of a family, of which the remembrance is 
transmitted to successive generations ; and nothing can 
be a more serious cguepedion an heir having omitted 
this essential means of doing honour to his predecessor. 
Unlike the customs of the western world, a Chinese or 
-such as is supposed to be most satisfactory to the dead, 
and favourable to the living. Children who experien- 
ced misfortune, after the death of their father, have 
been known to dig up the body, and deposit it in a pre- 
ferable place; in order to avert the influence of destiny. 
One singular ceremony,in Tunquinese funerals, consists 
in carrying a vase full of water on the coffin, which, if 
accomplished without ae, drop, is judged a happy 
presage, and the bearers are liberally recompensed. 
The Jews still preserve some of the ancient ceremonies 
practised in the burial of their dead, when they were mas- 
tersofJerusalem. The thumb isbent into a particular po- 
sition : the bearers of the co! wear no sandals, lest the 
breaking of a latchet should interrupt the procession ; 
they rend their‘garments; and throw dust on their heads, 
But they had a pomp and solemnity equal to those of the 
