422 ADOWA. 
making at the same time as much noise as possible with drums^ 
trumpets and vociferous outcries, which is practised with a view, 
as far as I could ascertain, of driving the devil out of the pati- 
ent/' the Abyssinians, in general, entertaining a rooted belief that 
most diseases are occasioned by the afflicted party's being 
possessed with an evil spirit." 80 soon, however, as the person 
approaches the moment of death, the drums and trumpets cease, 
and a mournful howl is set up by all the friends present, who, on 
the death being announced, tear their hair, scratch the skin from 
their temples, and cast themselves sobbing and screaming to the 
ground, in all the agony of despair, as if the existence of the 
whole universe were connected with his fate. Not only the rela- 
tions of the deceased express their grief in this violent manner, 
but the neighbours and acquaintance of the party, and those de- 
pendent even on the same master, so that the horrible confusion 
which for a time prevails is scarcely to be described. 
Soon after death, the body is carefully washed, fumigated 
with incense, and sewed up in one of the cloths which the de- 
ceased wore when alive, and is immediately carried to the grave ; 
the relations themselves bearing it on their shoulders in haste to the 
burying ground ; and while it is depositing in the earth, the priests 
recite over it an appointed form of prayer for the occasion. 
On the following day, or so soon as all the relations and friends 
of the deceased can be assembled, they proceed to the celebra- 
tion of the toscar,'' or " feast in honour of the dead.'' When 
the relations are people of consequence, an image is dressed out 
in rich garments to represent the deceased, which, being placed 
on^ his favourite mule, is carried in procession through the town 
