344 
FUNERAL CEREMONY. 
keeping time and singing a melancholy air. They were fol- 
lowed by women, who repeated the same song in chorus, and 
at intervals clapped their hands. Next came the son of the 
deceased, who was well dressed, and armed with a sabre. He 
did not appear much affected, and, after having walked round 
the assembly, he withdrew, and the warlike dances were 
renewed. The whole festival was arranged by two old men, 
relatives of the deceased. They addressed the assembled 
party, and delivered an eulogium on the good qualities of their 
departed kinswoman. The festival ended with a grand 
feast, during which, the goat which was killed in the morn- 
ing, was eaten. I remarked, with pleasure, the good order 
which prevailed throughout the whole of the entertainment, 
which was kept up with great merriment. The young people 
danced almost the whole of the night. The son of the 
deceased withdrew from the supper which he had pro- 
vided for his friends, and came to partake of ours. 
The day, which I had so long and anxiously looked for, 
at length arrived. But, before I quit this beautiful country, 
I will endeavour to give a description of it, as well as of the 
character and manners of the people among whom 1 lived 
five months. 
