box, and leave it there, to keep the dead cool. They have another no less pleasant custom, and that is, when a woman hath lost her husband, she still asks his counsel about her affairs. For instance, she will go to his grave, and tell him that such a person hath wronged her, or that such a man would marry her, and thereupon asks his counsel what she should do; having done so, she returns home, expecting the answer, which her late husband fails not to come and give her the night following.

Note 14, page 129, col. 2.

The gnawing of his hundred poison-mouths!» The Mohammedan tradition even more horrible than this. The corpse of the wicked is gnawed and stung till the resurrection by ninety-nine dragons, with seven heads each; or, as others say, their sins will become venomous beasts, the grievous ones stinging like dragons, the smaller like scorpions, and the others like serpents; circumstances which some understand in a figurative sense.-Sale's Preliminary Discourse.

This Mohammedan tale may be traced to the Scripture; « whose worm dieth not.»>

and among them, being many, there were some who gave themselves to licentious feasting and drinking in the night time, their spiritual father, St Elpheg, not knowing of it. But Almighty God did not a long time suffer this their licence, but, at midnight, struck with a sudden death one who was the ringleader in this licentiousness, in the chamber where they practised such excesses. In the mean time, the holy man being at his prayers, was interrupted by a great noise, proceeding out of the same chamber, and wondering at a thing so unaccustomed, he went softly to the dore, looking in through certain clefts, he saw two devils of a vast stature, which, with frequent strokes, as of hammers, tormented the liveles carkeys; from whence notwithstanding, proceeded loud clamours, as desiring help. But his tormentours answered, Thou didst not obey God, neither will we thee. This, the next morning, the holy man related to the rest; and no wonder if his companions became afterward more abstemious.-Cresoy.

There is another ceremony to be undergone at the time of death, which is described in a most barbarous mixture of Arabic and Spanish. The original is given for its singularity.

They also believe, that after a man is buried, the soul Sepa todo Moslim que quando viene a la muerte, returns to the body; and that two very terrible angels que lenvia Allah cinco Almalaques. El pirimero viene come into the grave, the one called Munkir, and the quando lurruh (la alma) esta en la garganta, y dize le, other Guanequir, who take him by the head, and make ye fijo de Adam que es de tu cuerpo el forçudo, que tan him kneel, and that, for that reason, they leave a tuft falaco es oy! y que es de tu lengua la fablante, como se of hair on the crown of their head, that the angels who enmudercido el dia de oy? y que es de tu conpania y make them kucel may take hold of it. After that, the parientes? oy te desaran solo. Y viene lalmalac segondo, angels examine him in this manner : « Who is thy God, quando le meten la mortaja, y dize le, ye fijo de Adam, thy religion, and prophet?» and he answers thus: «< My que es de lo que tenias de la requeza para la povreza? y God is the true God: my religion is the true religion; que es de lo que alçaste del poblado para el yermo? y and my prophet is Mahomet.» But if that man find que es do lo que alçaste del solaço para la soledad? Y himself to be guilty, and being afraid of their tortures, viene lalmalac tercero quando lo ponen en lanaas, (las shall say-« You are my God and my prophet, and it is andas) y dize le. Ye fijo de Adam, oy caminaras cain you that I believe,» at such an answer, these angels mino que nunca lo camines mas luente qu'el; el dia de smite him with a mace of fire, and depart; and the earth oy veras jente que nunca la veyerte nunca jamas; el dia squeezes the poor wretch so hard, that his mother's de oy entararas en casa que nunca entaraste en mas milk comes running out of his nose. After that come esterecha qu' ella jamas ni mas escura. Y viene lal two other angels, bringing an ugly creature with them, malac quarto, quando lo meten en la fuessa y quirida that represents his sins and bad deeds, changed into that y dize. Ye fijo de Adam, ayer eras sobre la carra de la form; then, opening a window, they depart into hell, tierra alegre y goyoso, oy seras en su vientre; y buen and the man remains there with that ugly creature, dia te vino si tu eres en la garacia de Allah, y mal dia being continually tormented with the sight of it, and te vino si tu eres en la ira de Allah, Y viene lalmalac the common miseries of the damned, until the day of cinqueno quando esta soterrado y quirida, y dize. Ye judgment, when both go to hell together. But if he fijo de Adam oy quedaras solo y aunque quedaremos hath lived well, and made the first answer above-men- con tu no aporovejariamos ninguna cosa; a spelegado tioned, they bring him a lovely creature, which repre- ellalgo y desas lo para otri; el dia de oy seras en lalsents his good actions, changed into that form; then, jenna (parayso) vicyuso, o en el fuego penoso. Aquestos the angels opening a window, go away to paradise, and cinco Almalaques vienen por mandamiento de Allah a the lovely creature remains, which gives him a great todo peresono en el pasa de la muerte. Rogemos de deal of content, and stays with him until the day of Allah nos ponga por la rogarye y alfadhila (merecijudgment, when both are received into paradise.-The-miento) de nuestoro alnabi (profete) Mohammad (salla allaho alayhi vasallam) nos ponga de los siervos obiMonkish ingenuity has invented something not unlike dientes, que merescamos ser seguros del de la espanto the Mohammedan article of faith. fuessa y destos cincos almalaques por su santo alrahma (misericordia) y peadad. Amen.»-Notices des Manuscrits de la Bibl. Nationale, t. 4. 636.

venot.

St Elpheg, saith William of Malmsbury, in his tender years took the monastic habit at Dirherst, then a small monastery, and now only an empty monument of antiquity. There, after he had continued awhile, aspiring to greater perfection, he went to bathe, where, enclosing himself in a secret cell, he employed his mind in contemplation of celestial things. To him there, after a short time, were congregated a great number of religious persons, desiring his instructions and directions;

Let every Moslem know, that when he comes to die, Allah sends five Almalaques. The first comes when the soul is in the throat, and says to him, Now, son of Adam, what is become of thy body, the strong, which is to-day so feeble? And what is become of thy tongue, the talker,

I suppose this means angels, from the Hebrew word for king.

sins, may leave them first; and when they come out, they set the right foot before, that the angel who writes down their good works, may have them first under his protection.-Thevenot.

BOOK X.

Note 1, page 130, col. 2.

No faithful crowded round her bier.

ranged themselves around the Iman, and all at once began to recite the Koran, almost as boys say their lesson. Each of the readers received ten parats, about fifteen sols, wrapt in paper. It was then for these fifteen pence, that these pious assistants had quarrelled, and in our own country you might have seen them fight for less.

The bier was placed by the grave, in which the gravedigger was still working, and perfumes were burnt by it. After the reading of the Koran, the Iman chanted some Arabic prayers, and his full chant would, no doubt, have appeared to you, as it did to me, very ridiculous. All the Turks were standing; they held their hands open over the grave, and answered Amen to all

the

prayers

deceased.

which the Iman addressed to God for the

The prayers finished, a large chest was brought, about six feet long, and three broad; its boards were very thick. The coffin is usually made of cypress; thus, literally, is verified the phrase of Horace, that the cypress is our last possession:

When any person is to be buried, it is usual to bring the corpse at mid-day, or afternoon prayers, to one or other of these Mosques, from whence it is accompanied by the greatest part of the congregation to the grave. Their processions, at these times, are not so slow and solemn as in most parts of Christendom; for the whole company make what haste they can, singing, as they go along, some select verses of their Koran. That absolute submission which they pay to the will of God, allows them not to use any consolatory words upon these occasions; no loss or misfortune is to be hereupon regretted or complained of: instead likewise of such expressions of sorrow and condolence, as may regard the deceased, the compliments turn upon the per. son who is the nearest concerned, a blessing (say his these trees, to which they have a religious attachment. friends) be upon your head.--Shaw.

All Mahometans inter the dead at the hour set apart for prayer; the defunct is not kept in the house, except he expires after sun-set; but the body is transported to the Mosque, whither it is carried by those who are going to prayer; each, from a spirit of devotion, is desirous to carry in his turn. Women regularly go on Friday to weep over, and pray at the sepulchres of the dead, whose memory they hold dear.-Chenier.

This custom of crowding about a funeral contributes to spread the plague in Turkey. It is not many years since, in some parts of Worcestershire, the mourners were accustomed to kneel with their heads upon the coffin during the burial service.

The fullest account of a Mahommedan funeral is in the Lettres sur la Grèce, of M. Guys. Chance made him the spectator of a ceremony which the Moslem will not suffer an infidel to profane by his presence.

About ten in the morning I saw the grave-digger at work; the slaves and the women of the family were seated in the burial-ground, many other women arrived, and then they all began to lament. After this prelude, they, one after the other, embraced one of the little pillars which are placed upon the graves, crying out Ogloum ogloum, sæna Mussaphir gueldi, My Son, my Son, a guest is coming to see thee. At these words their tears and sobs began anew; but the storm did not continue long; they all seated themselves, and entered into conversation.

Neque harum, quas colis, arborum,
Te, præter invisas cupressus,
Ulla brevem dominum sequetur.

The cemeteries of the Turks are usually planted with

The chest, which was in loose pieces, having been placed in the grave, the coffin was laid in it, and above, planks, with other pieces of wood. Then all the Turks, taking spades, cast earth upon the grave to cover it. This is a part of the ceremony at which all the bystanders assisted in their turn.

Before the corpse is buried it is carried to the Mosque. Then, after having recited the Fatka, (a prayer very similar to our Lord's prayer, which is repeated by all present), the Iman asks the congregation what they have to testify concerning the life and morals of the deceased? Each then, in his turn, relates those good actions with which he was acquainted. The body is then washed, and wrapped up like a mummy, so that it cannot be seen. Drugs and spices are placed in the bier with it, and it is carried to interment. Before it is lowered into the grave, the Iman commands silence, saying, « Cease your lamentations for a moment, and let me instruct this Moslem how to act, when he arrives in the other world." Then, in the ear of the corpse, he directs him how to answer the Evil Spirit, who will not fail to question him respecting his religion, etc. This lesson finished, he repeats the Fatka, with all the assistants, and the body is let down into the grave. After they have thrown earth three times into the grave, as the Romans used, they retire. The Iman only remains, he approaches the grave, stoops down, inclines his ear, and listens to hear if the Idead disputes when the Angel of Death comes to take him: then he bids him farewell; and in order to be well paid, never fails to report to the family the best news of the dead.

As soon as the ceremony of interment is concluded, the Imaum, seated with his legs bent under his thighs, repeats a short prayer; he then calls the deceased three

At noon I heard a confused noise, and cries of lamentation; it was the funeral which arrived. A Turk preceded it, bearing upon his head a small chest; four other Turks carried the bier upon their shoulders, then came the father, the relations, and the friends of the dead, in great numbers. Their cries ceased at the entrance of the burial-ground, but then they quarrelled-times by his name, mentioning also that of his mother, and for this: The man who bore the chest opened it, it was filled with copies of the Koran: a crowd of Turks, young and old, threw themselves upon the books, and scrambled for them. Those who succeeded

but without the smallest allusion to that of his father. What will be considered as infinitely more extraordinary is, that should the Imaum be ignorant of the name of the mother, it is usual for him to substitute

that of Mary, in honour of the Virgin, provided the deceased be a male, and that of Eve, in case the deceased be a female, in honour of the common mother of mankind. This custom is so invariable, that even at the interment of the Sultans, it is not neglected; the Imaum calling out, Oh Mustapha! Son of Mary! or, Oh Fatimah! Daughter of Eve!

Immediately afterwards he repeats a prayer, called Telkeen, which consists of the following words: «Remember the moment of thy leaving the world, in making this profession of faith. Certainly there is no God but God. He is one, and there is no association in Him. Certainly Mohammed is the prophet of God. Certainly Paradise is real. Certainly the resurrection is real, it is indisputable. Certainly God will bring to life the dead, and make them leave their graves. Certainly thou hast acknowledged God for thy God; Islamism for thy religion; Mohammed for thy prophet; the Koran for thy priest; the sanctuary of Mecca for thy Kibla; and the faithful for thy brethren. God is my God; there is no other God but he. He is the master of the august and sacred throne of Heaven. Oh Mustaphah! (or any other name) say that God is thy God (which the Imaum repeats thrice.) Say there is no other God but God (also repeated thrice). Say that Mohammed is the prophet of God; that thy religion is Islam, and that thy prophet is Mohammed, upon whom be the blessing of salvation, and the mercy of the Lord. O God, do not abandon us.»> After this ejaculation, the ceremony is concluded by a chapter of the Koran, and the party returus home.

As soon as the grave was filled up, each friend planted a sprig of cypress on the right, and another on the left hand of the deceased, and then took his leave. This was to ascertain, by their growth, whether the deceased would enjoy the happiness promised by Mohammed to all true believers, or whether he would for ever be denied the bliss of the Houris. The former would occur should the sprigs on the right hand take root, and the latter would be ascertained if the left only should flourish. If both succeeded, he would be greatly favoured in the next world; or, if both failed, he would be tormented by black angels, until, through the mediation of the prophet, he should be rescued from their persecutions.

The graves are not dug deep, but separated from each other carefully, that two bodies may not be placed together. The earth is raised, to prevent an unhallowed foot from treading upon it; and, instead of a plain flat stone being placed over it, one which is perforated in the centre is most commonly used, to allow of cypress trees, or odoriferous herbs, being planted immediately over the corpse. Occasionally a square stone, hollowed out, and without a cover, is preferred; which being filled with mould, the trees or herbs are cultivated in it.—Griffiths.

Note 2, page 130, col. 2.

No column raised by the way-side, etc.

The Turks bury not at all within the walls of the city, but the great Turkish Emperors themselves, with their wives and children about them, and some few other of their great Bassaes, and those only in chapels by themselves, built for that purpose. All the rest of the Turks are buried in the fields; some of the better sort, in tombs of marble; but the rest, with tomb-stones

laid upon them, or with two great stones, one set up at the head, and the other at the foot of every grave; the greatest part of them being of white marble, brought from the Isle of Matmora.

They will not bury any man where another hath been buried, accounting it impiety to dig up another man's bones: by reason whereof, they cover all the best ground about the city with such great white stones; which, for the infinite number of them, are thought sufficient to make another wall about the city.-Knolles, The Turks bury by the way-side, believing that the passengers will pray for the souls of the dead.-Tavernier.

Note 3, page 131, col. 1.

His eyes are aching with the snow.

All that day we travelled over plains all covered with snow, as the day before; and indeed it is not only troublesome, but very dangerous, to travel through these deep snows. The mischief is, that the beams of the sun, which lie all day long upon it, molest the eyes and face with such a scorching heat, as very much weakens the sight, whatever remedy a man can apply, by wearing, as the people of the country do, a thin handkerchief of green or black silk, which no way

abates the annoyance.—Chardin.

When they have to travel many days through a country covered with snow, travellers, to preserve their sight, cover the face with a silk kerchief, made on purpose, like a sort of black crape. Others have large furred bonnets, bordered with goat-skin, and the long goathair hanging over the face, is as serviccable as the crape.-Tavernier.

An Abyssinian historian says, that the village called Zinzenam, rain upon rain, has its name from an extraordinary circumstance that once happened in these parts; for a shower of rain fell, which was not properly of the nature of rain, as it did not run upon the ground, but remained very light, having scarce the weight of feathers, of a beautiful white colour, like flour; it fell in showers, and occasioned a darkness in the air more than rain, and liker to mist. It covered the face of the whole country for several days, retaining its whiteness the whole time, then went away like dew, without leaving any smell, or unwholesome effect behind it.—Bruce.

So the Dutch were formerly expelled from an East Indian settlement, because their Consul, in narrating to the Prince of the country the wonders of Europe, chanced to say, that in his own country, water became a solid body once a-year, for some time; when men, or even horses, might pass over it without sinking. The -Prince, in a rage, said, that he had hitherto listened to his tales with patience, but this was so palpable a lie, that he would never more be connected with Europeans, who only could assert such monstrous falsehoods.