AFRICA. 93 
and earth, under which he is burled, Is 
greater fize, and more apparent. 
If the deceafed was a perfon highly ef- 
teemed, the family are In great gridf and 
confternatlon ; the night Is fpent In cries, 
and howllngs, mixed with Imprecations 
agalnft death 5 while the friends who arrive 
augment this noife, which, at a diftance, one 
would take for the intoxication of joy, or 
the fhrieks of defpalr. The figns of their grief 
are not however equivocal to thofe who live 
in the midft of them : I4iave feen fome of 
them flied bitter tears, and in great abun- 
dance. 
Dr. Sparmann fays he was witnefs to a 
fcene in the colonies, which he relates In the 
following manner: Two old women {hook 
** and beat with their fifts one of their coun- 
trymen, who was either dying or already 
dead, while they loudly poured forth re- 
proaches, or confoling expreffions, clofe to 
his ear." We muft not allow ourfelves to 
be deceived by a tale of this kind. Had 
thefe women been convinced that the young 
man was dead, they would have certainly 
exprefled their affedtlon without that (liak- 
