A greater portion of the surface of the globe is proba bly possessed by those 3vho profess the religion of Maho met, than by those who entertain any other tenets. Their funerals are conducted with much solemnity by their priests or Imams, and are attended by the friends and re lations of the deceased ; but, in general, the body of males is accompanied by males only, and those of females by their own sex. The extinction of life is followed by im mediate preparations for interment ; and this proceeds from an idea, that if the bliss which awaits the true be liever is merited by the deceased, not an instant should be lost in conveying him to the cemetery; should it be other wise, it is incumbent on every good Mussulman to dis charge himself as speedily as possible from the service of the wicked. This precipitation, though not common, oc curs among other nations: in some, it originates from the necessity of immediate interment in hot climates ; in others, it is an established custom, which cannot be traced to any certain source ; but it is so great, as to admit of very little doubt, that many persons are committed to the earth before life has fled. A few hours after dissolution, the body, hav ing been previously washed with milk and water, or with water only, is placed on a bier, with the face uncovered, and carried with hasty steps to the grave. As Mahomet has declared that whoever shall carry a dead body forty paces towards the place of sepulture will thereby etcpiate a deadly sin, it is usual for all ranks to tender their assis tance on meeting a funeral procession. Being predestina rians in the strictest acceptation, no dread of dangef. or in jury deters them from it ; whence a devout Mahornetan, even while the plague rages, offers his assistance, and sup ports, without apprehension, the body of one who has died of it. The interment being finished, and the deceased placed on his right side, and turned towards Mecca, the Imam repeats a prayer, and calls him three times by his name, mentioning also that of his mother, but without the smallest allusion to the name of his father; and when in ignorance of her name, it is not unusual to substitute that of the Virgin Mary. This part of the ceremony bears some analogy to the Cow/emu/in of the Romans, among whom it was customary to call the deceased with a loud voice, after he was laid on the funeral pile, or when he was a person of distinguished rank, to use horns or trumpets. It has likewise been common with many nations of the world, and is so with the lower classes of people in Ire land, to call loudly on the deceased, to interrogate him why he died, and whether he had not every thing in this world that he could desire. With the Romans it has been sup posed, but without any rational foundation, as designed to ascertain whether or not the body is inanimate ; because instances are given of persons rising from the pile prepar ed to burn them, and returning in health to their homes. The name of the deceased Mahometaii and his mother be ing pronounced, another ejaculation or prayer follows, and the party returns home. No weeping, or symptoms of dis tress, are seen at a funeral; all profess unlimited resigna tion to the will of Providence : Whatever happens is deemed a wise dispensation, which it would be impious to lament. Their cemeteries are of considerable extent, and the graves shallow and separate ; for the modern European custom of interring numbers in the same grave is un known. However, it has not been universally so in Eu rope; for the canons of the council of Auxerre declare, non licet mortuum super mortuum mita. The grave is co vered with a slab, which, instead of being plain and flat, is perforated in the centre, so as to admit of cypress trees being planted immediately over the body. A hollow square stone is occasionally preferred, which, being filled with earth, admits of the cultivation of trees or herbs within it. Relations frequently visit the cemeteries, and pray on the graves of the deceased ; and it is peculiarly interesting to see widows and orphans occupied in this pious vocation.
An opposite custom is presented in many respects by the Chinese and Tunquinese, whose numbers far exceed the inhabitants of all the European states combined, and vie with the numbers which are under the sway of the i\lussulman doctrines ; while they have subsisted under a regular form of administration, and preserved the same ceremonies for the lapse of thotthands of years. With
the latter, instead of hasty and precipitate interment, the body of a person deceased is preserved a long time, some times two years, in order to admit of sufficient prepara tion for his obsequies. A splendid funeral is the utmost object of ambition. Individuals are content to labour their whole lives, and subsist in penury, that the funeral pomp at their death may be the greater. When this is conducted with uncommon magnificence, it forms an epoch in the history of a family, of which the remembrance is transmitted to successive generations ; and nothing can be a more serious reproach than an heir having omitted this essential means of doing honour to his predecessor. Unlike the customs of the western world, a Chinese or a Tunquinese prepares his coffin a long time before he ex pects that, in the course of nature, it shall receive his earthly remains. Its splendour is the primary considera tion, and the wealthy frequently expend a great portion of their property in obtaining one made of some valuable wood, adorned with sculpture or painting, and decorated with inscriptions. It is not unusual for the children of a family, by contributing among themselves, to get an ele gant coffin privately madefor their father, or for any other near relation, and endeavour to give him an agreeable sur prise, by conveying it unexpectedly into his apartment : this mode of presenting a coffin to a parent is a filial act of piety. Its place is in the banqueting chamber, as an orna mental piece of furniture, to be admired by the guests of the owner, who do not fail to compliment him on its beauty. But when the period for its occupation does arrive, and a person breathes his last, the bystanders cover his face with a handkerchief, to which they believe his soul attaches it self, and it is carefully preserved. His body is put into the coffin, which still retains its original place, and along with it clothes, goods, and rice, to serve for his use in the next world. Men are clothed in seven of their best habits ; women in nine. The coffin is not nailed, but joined with a very adhesive pitch, and then entirely varnished over, which precludes the escape of any emanations. Meantime regu lar visits are paid to the deceased, and whatever be the rank of the visitor, on this occason, he always holds himself inferior, at no time approaching the coffin without four prostrations. At every meal of the family, different kinds of food are offered to the deceased, of which he is entreated to partake ; and the principal person of the house, in pro nouncing an eulogium on his character, deplores his loss to the survivors, and offers unlimited rewards to heaven for his restoration. The splendour of the funeral is all this time in contemplation. Should the tangible funds of the deceased he inadequate, his lands are sold ; and should something still be wanting, his children dispose of their own property, or the friends and relations contribute ; and as a record of the greater donations is kept, he who is thus liberal is entitled to singular honour. Particular solemnity is observed in transporting the body to the place of.sepul ture : the eldest son, or nearest relative, precedes it, hav ing his head wrapped in a faggot of straw, and throwing him self on the ground at repeated intervals, as if to interrupt its passage ; and the procession is slow and long, and inter rupted by many pauses. Much importance is attached to the place of sepulture ; priests are consulted on the sub ject, and 40 or 50 times greater price is paid for what is judged the most suitable, than for any other spot of land. It is such as is supposed to be most satisfactory to the dead, and favourable to the living. Children who experi enced misfortune, after the death of their father, have been known to dig up the body, and deposit it in a preferable place, in order to avert the influence of destiny. One sin gular ceremony, in Tunquinese funerals, consists in carry ing a vase full of water on the coffin, which, if accomplish ed without spilling a drop, is judged a happy presage, and the bearers are liberally recompensed.