The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-10
Funeral Ceremonies of the Arabs.

The Arabs, who set little value on the
lives of mankind, respect their remains,
and take the utmost care of their inter-
ment; the want of it they consider one of
the greatest misfortunes that can happen,
and they die with composure when they
are certain of leaving some one behind
them to bury them. The severest pun
ishment, therefore, among them is to be
cut to pieces and thrown to the dogs.
Their funeral ceremonies, as far as have
had an opertunity to observe them, are
as follows - Scarcely has the Arab
breathed his last, when his body is care
fully washed; after which it is wrapped
up in a winding-sheet of white cloth re-
served by the Arabs for that purpose.
This cloth is manufactured in the towns
of Arabia; but they set a much higher
value upon that which is brought them
by pilgrims from Mecca, and which has
been blessed by the principal Imam.
This benediction is expensive, it is true,
but the singular iavors annexed TO it make
them forget what it costs. As soon as
the dead body is purified, it is laid upon
a kind of litter, and is carried to tie place
of interment, either on horseback, or by
the friends and relations of the deceased.
While the men are employed in digging
the grave, the women squat down in a
circle around the body, which they feel
and uncover, and afterwards converse
together with much Indifference but
every now and then they break off their
discourse to give vent to their lamentations,
to ask the body questions, to beseech it,
in the most earnest manner, to return
again and take up its abode amongst them.
"Why," say they, "hast thou Quilted us
Did we not prepare thy courcouson well
Alas shall thy children behold thee no
more! AT present, since thou hast plung-
ed them into sadness and wo, nothing
remains for them but TO sigh and to weep
All ! return again with us nothing shall
be wanting to thee. But thou nearest u:
no more thou no longer givest us an an
swer 10 our words thou nearest Only
our sighs," &C., and other expressions o
the same kind, which have often made
the Arabs translate to me, whilst ! wa'
assisting at these mournful ceremonies
These dismal lamentations, which display
a natural and pathetic eloquence. woul(
have powerful effect in moving tn,
hearts of the spectators, did they not SC,
these very women, moment after, throw
aside that external appearance of tn
deepest grief, talk and laugh together
and afterwards return to their forme
wailings. During these tender complaints
they tear their hair, and open the veins o
their temples with their nails, while tn
blood trickles down, mingled with thei
tears, and exhibits an appearance of tn
deepest despair. When the grave i
finished, the body is deposited in it on it
side, end with the face turned towards III
east. One of their pdpas puts into hi
: hand letter of recommendation TO Ma
J homet; after which a kind of arch j
formed over it with branches of trees, i
order that the earth may not touch j
When the grave is covered with eartf
other BRANCHES of trees are laid over i
with quantity Of large stones, to prevei
3 savage animals from devouring the bod
q in the night time. In the middle Of Ii
Q stones, an opening is left where the