The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-13
EiOm the London Nsw Monthly Magazine.
TARTAR CEREMONIES.

anpngst these is a church, for it cannot he
caied mosque, for Tartar worship. / at
teTled on Friday; as they had no minah TO
cal the plous at the hour ofprayer, the Imaun
mdlnted wall, and stood in a totterino sit
uaton, exhorting the people with "Aliah is
go come TO prayer. Prayer is to be
Preferred to Sleep" in loud and singing
voce. Onmy approach, the door was open
edi out as did not seem inclined to relin-
guam my warm boots on a day when the
thermometer was at ten degrees below Ze-
70, compromise was made, on condition
thai would not spit on the floor. To this
radily consented, and was provided with
bhch in quiet corner of the church.
Oh thereDtrance of Tartar he immedi-
atel5 relinquished his boots, and stood upon
ca9pet, with his face towards Mecca he
then Frustrated himself three times-some
continued this for about ten minutes; they
then put their hands upon their ewes, and
then the thumbs, with the hand extended to
the tips of their ears the hands were then
held clasped IN front of the body, and the
silent devotion ensted. By the two former
motions, | CONCLUDED they intended to shut
out from the eyes md ears all worldly OBJ
jects and sounds. Erect, and faced towards
Mecca, they stood in silent devotion, which
now and then was interrupted by prostra-
ton or deep sigh The Mullah, who had
been silently employed as well as the rest,
after about half al hours devotion, mounted
small elevated blace, and delivered tlean-
ing on a reed) discourse, the upshot of
which did not dearly understand. But at
the conclusion, then the priest called out
to Mecca" allthe devont rushed towards
the priest and lowed, and repeated IBIS
millah." They anged themselves in ranks
like soldiers, andI saw the Imaun very bust
ly employed in Keeping the rear ranks close
to the front. After this they dispersed. |
They seemed Throughout very devout wor-
shippers; nor dig they seem displeased at
my attendance, Int bowed to me on leaving
the church.
| had often hend of the ceremonies of
Tartar funeral, aAd in all my travels in this
world, never hal been fortunate enough to
see one. now fave myself up to continual
inquiries concerning the health of very
wealthy Tartar, twhom | understood to be |
IN very precaious state. About fort |
night after my KIND enquiries, he died; and |
| determined to 10 him the honor to attend |
his funeral. Fig very nearly escaped my
vigilance, but 6e day, as was walking |
near the Gostono OWN, saw ten or twelve |
men running away with large box, which
was carried on poles. / soon found out that |
this was my friend, and away ran by the
side Of the box along the Kremln wall, to
the bridge which crosses the Moskowa
herel found droska, and very shortly af-
-teEwards i was4in the line ofthase vehicles,
formed By the Tartars. As this was man
of some tote, every man of that persuasion
in Moseoy was in attendance. The bear
ers were occasionally relieved, bat they
never stopped for this ceremony; they SEEM
ed determined to run him to earth as quick
ly as possible. The first halt we made at
the Tartfr church above mentioned; here
the coainsif it can be called one was placed
on the Mecca side of the church, but outside
of it,and the Tartars took up pious but
wet situation on the ground in its rear. l
endesvored to get better sight of the GER
emory by advancing in front of the coffin !;
hut my old friend, the Imaun,, waved respect
fullyEto me, intimating that | was not to
stand between the corpse and Mecca. The
priess said short prayer in hurried tone,
whet the bearers again seized the coffin and
trott{d it away to its final destination. The
Tarurs entered the church, and prayed in
goodearnest for about ten minutes Then,
on hey came towards the Tartar burial
ground, on droskas as before. The ground
destined for this purpose is about fur wersts
from the city, to the northward of the Smo-
lensto road and for once in my life was
not ssked for my passport in passing Rus
sian|barrier.
he burial ground commands very fine
view of Moscow and the surrounding coun-
try the day was particularly fine and
clef. The grave was dug in the direction
of Mecca, and braided at the bottom like a
cofh. The Tartars having formed them
sel%s into semicircle in the rear of the
Mulah and the Imaun, the corpse was taken
frol the box; it was wrapped in rich shawls,
andperfumed with myrrh; it had been en-
balhed so well that no faint of corruption
realized me. The body was very shortly
uncovered to the last sheet, and was placed
by the priest himself in the grave, with the
fec towards Mecca. The priest then sat
doyn in his former position, and the scene
became uncommcnly interesting. The dros-
ka drivers occupied the left of the grave.
MY party, with Russian butcher or two,
witt some little children, the right, and the
Faithful, the centre, each Of whom, on the
priest having placed the corpse, kissed some
cath and threw it in the grave. A dead
silence lasted about two minutes, which was
broken by the priest, who, assisted by the
Inun, sung the prayers in most dscor-
dant voice and nasal information. The
hands of all were then held as if reading a
book, the hands representing the book; and
the ceremony ended by the Tartars stroking
each his face and beard.
CHoICE OF OCCUPATION II is very COM
mon error with parents, in determining upon
the future occupations Of their children, TO fix
upon e profession, of some sedentary employ
ment, for those Of weakly or delicate constitu
toni while to the robust and vigorous, is as
signed moro active and laborious occupation
demanding considerable bodily exposure to the
open air As general rule, the very opposite
OF this course should DO pursued: the robus
being the best able to bear up against the per
nicious effects of that confinement and inactiv;
ty, to which the enfeebled constitution will yer.
speedily fall prey; while the latter will b
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