MOETUAEY CUSTOMS OF THE PEKSIiLNS. 9 



the renown of being one of the most civilized Nations in the world, that 

 notwithstanding they should have used such barbarous customs about the 

 Dead as are set down in the Writings of some Historians ; and the rather 

 because at this day there are still to be seen among them those remains 

 of Antiquity, which do fully satisfie us, that their Tombs have been very 

 magnificent. And yet nevertheless, if we will give credit to Procopius and 

 Agathias, the Persians were never wont to bury their Dead Bodies, so far 

 were they from bestowing any Funeral Honours upon them : But, as these 

 Authors tell us, they exposed them stark naked in the open fields, which is 

 the greatest shame our Laws do allot to the most infamous Criminals, by 

 laying them open to the view of all upon the highways: Yea, in their 

 opinion it was a great unhappiness, if either Birds or Beasts did not devour 

 their Carcases ; and they commonly made an estimate of the Felicity of 

 these poor Bodies, according as they were sooner or later made a prey of. 

 Concerning these, they resolved that they must needs have been very bad 

 indeed, since even the beasts themselves would not touch them; which 

 caused an extream sorrow to their Relations, they taking it for an ill bod- 

 ing to their Family, and an infallible presage of some great misfortune 

 hanging over their heads ; for they persuaded themselves, that the Souls 

 which inhabited those Bodies being dragg'd into Hell, would not fail to 

 come and- trouble them; and that being always accompanied with the 

 Devils, their Tormentors, they would certainly give them a great deal of 

 disturbance. 



"And on the contrary, when these Corpses were presently devoured, 

 their joy was very great, they enlarged themselves in praises of the De- 

 ceased ; every one esteeming them undoubtedly happy, and came to con- 

 gratulate their relations on that account : For as they believed assuredly, 

 that they were entered into the Elysian Fields, so they were persuaded, 

 that they would procure the same bliss for all those of their family. 



"They also took a great delight to see Skeletons and Bones scatered 

 up and down in the fields, whereas we can scarcely endure to see those of 

 Horses and Dogs used so. And these remains of Humane Bodies, (the 

 sight whereof gives us so much horror, that we presently bury them out of 

 our sight, whenever we find them elsewhere than in Charnel-houses or 



