192 
TRAVELS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
CHAP. IV* 
the remainder of the night. And now, for the first time in all our 
distresses, my hopes did indeed fail me. At daylight I went out 
and informed our kind friends, Yussuf and Hadje Mahmoud, of 
our misfortunes ; at which they were much affected, and offered us 
all the assistance in their power. Belford, as well as he was able, 
hastened to form a rough coffin out of our chests ; and a sad and 
painful task it was. The washers of the dead came to us to per- 
form their melancholy office, and Mr. Ritchie's body was washed, 
perfumed, and rubbed with camphor ; and I procured some white 
hnen, with which the gi;ave-clothes were made. During our pre- 
parations for the burial, the women, who are always hired to cry at 
the death of persons whose friends are able to pay them, proposed 
to perform that disgusting office in our house; but I would not allow 
it, and very unceremoniously shut the door against them. While 
I was out of sight, either our servant or some of our officious visitors 
stole several of our effects, and I clearly saw that we were now con- 
sidered as lawful plunder. The coffin being completed, I hired men 
to carry it with ropes, but one of them having suddenly gone away, 
poor Belford was obUged to take his place ; when, attended by our 
small party of Mamlukes, we proceeded at a quick pace to the 
grave, at about ten o'clock. The clay below the sand was white, 
which was considered as a good omen ; and Belford and myself 
threw the first earth into the grave. During the night we had, 
unknown to the people, read our protestant burial service over the 
body ; and now publicly recited the first chapter of the Koran, 
which the most serious Christian would consider as a beautiful and 
applicable prayer on such an occasion. 
Having thus performed the last sad duties to our unfortunate 
friend, we returned home to pass a day of misery. It was necessary 
to distribute food to the poor who surrounded our door in great 
