23 San kk | | _The Fourth Mae of

 

I aared not resist the prince’s will, and so he gave me one of ©
the ladies of his court, a noble, beautiful, and rich lady. - The
ceremonies of marriage being over, I went and dwelt with the lady, |
and for some time we lived together in perfect harmony. I was
not, however, very well satisfied with my condition, and_ therefore
designed to make my escape on the first occasion, and to return
to Bagdad, which my present settlement, how advantageous soever,
could not make me forget. —

While I was thinking on this, the wife of one of my neighbours,

_ with whom I had contracted a very close friendship, fell sick and
died: I went to see and comfort him in his affliction, and finding
him swallowed up with sorrow, I said to him as soon as I saw him,
‘God preserve you and grant you a long life’

.* Alas!’ replied he, ‘how do you think I should obtain that

‘favour you wish me? I: have not above an hour to live’

‘Pray, said I, ‘do not entertain sucha melancholy thought ;
I hope it will not be so, but that I shall enjoy your company for -
many years.’ . .

‘I wish you, said he, ‘a long life; but for me my days are at
an end, for'I must be buried this day with my wife. This is
a law which our ancestors established in this island, and always
observed inviolably.. The living husband is interred with the dead
wife, and the living wife: with the dead husband. Nothing. can
save me; every one must ‘submit to this law’

While he was eritertaining’me with an account of this barbarous
custom, the very hearing of which frightened me cruelly, his kindred,
friends and neighbours came in a body to assist at the funerals.
They put on the corpse the woman’s richest apparel, as if it had
been her wedding-day, and dressed her with all her jewels; then
they put her into an open coffin, and lifting it up, began their
march to the place of burial. The husband walked at. the Head
of the company, and followed the corpse. They went up to-a high