ing vice familiar, that their depravity is publicly acknowledged with no less boldness than effrontery.

Experience has long proved, that polygamy, which Mahomet has recommended to his followers, as the greatest perfection of a Musselman's life, is not only inimical to the increase of population, but ruinous to domestic happiness of every kind, and that unanimity which can alone secure the tranquillity of parents and children. The prophet has proved himself a bad reasoner, in saying, that "the more you draw out of the well, the more water it yields:" women, on the contrary, soon find it dried up.

Some have maintained, that it is not contrary to the law of nature to possess four wives; because in the population of Asia and Africa, there are, upon an average, four women to each man. It is added, that the females are marriageable at twelve years of age, though still retaining all the manners of children: thus they are only capable of gratifying the passions, without contributing to the society of a husband; and when at twenty-five, they should become agreeable companions, their fecundity and personal charms disappear. In Europe, where a female at the age of thirty or forty, frequently retains the graces of person, improved by those of the mind, she is often more acceptable than an inexperienced girl, to a man of sentiment: while in Africa and the East, men are content to pass the most valuable years of their lives, with women whom they cannot love, for the mere pleasure of sensual gratification. Hence the necessity of taking a second wife, while the first superintends the domestic concerns, and education of her children. But despotism has had recourse to other reasonings in support of this unnatural system: amongst the rest, it arrogates a degree of savage glory, from lowering and despising the weaker sex.

It is true, that taking the whole mass of the Moorish population, there are not many who avail themselves of the dangerous privilege of taking a second wife; for the conditions annexed to it, are so numerous, as to prevent most people from fulfilling them. A man is

obliged first to prove before the Cadi, that he can support an additional female according to her rank in life, and to which she has been accustomed. Some, possessing ample means, avoid having recourse to polygamy from motives of economy, and to prevent the discordance which is sure to arise from a plurality of wives. Although allowed to take as many concubines as they please, it is in the legitimate wife's power to dismiss them whenever she thinks proper: if she does not take advantage of this liberty, care is taken to be constantly on the alert, so that the new favourite shall not gain too great an ascendancy over the mind of her husband. If any favour is accorded to him by the concubine, his wife takes care to keep the merit of such condescension to herself.

As might be expected, it is scarcely possible to describe with what warm interest a Moorish woman listens to an account of our customs with regard to her own sex; and how she envies that tender consideration in which the females of Europe are held; also the feeling manner in which they lament their melancholy fate whenever they visit the consuls' wives, or those of other Christian residents. These visits are generally devoted to a recapitulation of all their unmerited sufferings, the coldness of their husbands, and innumerable hardships to which they are exposed in the harem. But of all our institutions, none is more applauded by these unhappy victims, than that of our only being able to marry and blend our destiny with one wife. They believe the women of Europe to be on this account infinitely more happy; and very properly, that the men are still more so. According to a German poet, he that possesses four wives is fortunate; but the man who has only one, is a demi-god!

FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

215

CHAPTER XI.

Funeral Ceremonies and Lamentations over the Dead in BARBARY.-Mourning of Widows.-Vows of Friendship and Fidelity made on the Graves of departed Relatives. -Table of the Moors.—Cuscousu.-Pillaw and Basseen. -Use of Sugar and Spices.-Yemen Coffee.-Amusements of the Moors.Method of enticing Birds.-Chess, and other Games of Chance.-Social Meetings.—The Shops.-Moorish Baths.-Mode of Bathing. -Baths frequented once a Week by the Women.-Singers, and Dancing Girls.-Itinerant Story Tellers.--The Bastinado.-Life of the rich Moor.

1

AS in most other countries, there is also great apparent sorrow evinced in Barbary when any one dies. No sooner is an event of this nature announced, than several women with dishevelled hair and every symptom of grief, rush into the house of the deceased, clasping their hands and uttering loud cries of despair. When these have subsided a little, one of the party, generally an old female acquaintance, pronounces a laboured eulogy on the merits of her departed friend: this is immediately followed by a renewal of the previous sobbings and lamentations. On the coffin, which is formed in the shape of an oblong square, being brought in, all the women put their heads into it. This ceremony is accompanied by increased mourning, and soon after two females come in with lighted tapers and bunches of flowers, which are strewed over the coffin. The body being wrapped up in a winding sheet, is placed in it; and followed to the grave by the whole assembly, is consigned to its final home in the midst of their wailings.* If a widow is left to deplore

*The subject of Moorish funeral rites is very minutely detailed in Tully's Narrative, vide p. 90; where the reader will find some extremely curious facts related.-Ed.

216

FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

the loss of her husband, she is instantly surrounded by a large circle of sympathizing friends, who absolutely overwhelm her with consolation, until she is frequently obliged to withdraw from their further assiduities. Numberless lives have been sacrificed in Mahometan countries, from the extraordinary practice of hastening to inter bodies almost immediately after animation appears to be suspended.

This barbarous custom arises from an idea, that the felicity of the next world, does not commence till the corpse is under ground : so that no sooner has it been washed, and a composition of various essences or camphor put into the ears and nostrils, but the coffin is brought, and the funeral takes place. And in proceeding to the grave, the Moors get there as fast as they possibly can, assigning as a reason, that the angel of justice is waiting to receive the soul of the deceased. The The graves of men are distinguished by a turban, while that of a female is ornamented with a large nosegay of the finest flowers. After the burial a profusion of meat and other refreshments are distributed to the friends who have attended: this is called the repast of the sepulchre.

The more any one is afflicted at the death of a relation or friend, the greater is his neglect and indifference to dress and person. While the mourning lasts, every kind of superfluous indulgence and ornament is suppressed: looking-glasses, jewels, and perfumes are alike neglected. A widow of rank changes her band richly set with precious stones, for a simple piece of white ribbon, while the clothes she wears are purposely soiled to give her a greater appearance of mourning. She also goes down to the beach, if living near the sea: and seated on a rock, arranges her hair, discomposed by the recent loss, with a golden comb, procured for the occasion. At the end of four months and ten days, she returns to the spot with the identical comb, and four fresh eggs; the latter of which, is given to the first person she meets, who cannot refuse them, although they are supposed to carry away all the afflictions of the donor: and the comb is thrown' into the sea. She is then, and not before, at liberty to marry again.

Every Friday the parents and relatives of a person recently deceased, visit his tomb, in the belief that on the above day, the spirits of the dead hover about it, to converse with each other concerning the objects of their affections left behind on earth. It is sometimes customary with the Moors to dress and adorn the dead body, so that it shall not make a contemptible figure on being introduced to the great assembly of spirits. The graves are covered with smooth mortar, and frequently whitewashed; flowers are also cultivated round them, while care is taken to root up all the noxious herbs or plants found in their vicinity. The oath of friendship and fidelity is often taken over the grave of a newly buried friend. This ceremony consists of swearing by the altar of the prophet, and sepulchres of their lost friends, and then making a wound in each other's arms; whence the blood flows into a bowl, and mixes in sign of amity and reconciliation. Thus in the wilds, and impenetrable woods of North America, the savages select a tempestuous day, and hanging up the bones of their departed friends to the highest branches, the most sacred treaties and alliances are made: while the whitened remains are agitated to and fro by the storm, the venerated shades of their former possessors are invoked, and no doubt is entertained of the Great Spirit's being present at this solemn feast of souls, as it is called. It is also common in the islands of the South Sea, for the natives to assemble at their solitary morai, for the purpose of exchanging vows of reciprocal affection over the scattered tumuli of former friends.

The Moorish tombs, surrounded by cooling shades, and thickly planted with flowers, call to mind the romantic cemeteries of France and Switzerland. There is scarcely any country in which a great portion of the inhabitants do not derive a secret and delightful source of consolation from the idea of departed friends being present at the scenes of life, and keeping up a mysterious intercourse with those who frequent their graves to pay the sacred tribute of sympathy

and tears.

In their diet the Moors generally vary between the extremes of

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