Sinbad the Sailor RE. 239

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mountain, and when they came thither, took up a great stone, which
covered the mouth of a very deep pit, and let down the corpse, with
all its apparel and jewels. Then the husband, embracing his kindred
and friends, suffered himself to be put into another open coffin without
resistance, with a pot of -water, and seven little loaves, and was
let down in the same manner as they let down his wife. The
mountain was pretty long, and reached to the sea. The ceremony
being over, they covered the hole again with the stone, and returned.

It is needless to say that I was the only melancholy spectator
of this funeral, whereas the rest were scarcely moved at it, the
practice was so customary to them. I could not forbear speaking
my thoughts on this matter to the king. ‘Sir, said I, ‘I cannot
but wonder at the strange custom in this country of burying the
living with the dead. I have been a great traveller, and seen many
countries, but never heard of so cruel a law.’

‘What do you mean, Sinbad?’ said the king; ‘it is a common
law. I shall be interred with the queen, my wife, if she die first.’

‘But, sir” said I, ‘may I presume to ask your ee. if strangers -
be obliged to observe this law ?’

‘Without doubt, replied the king, smiling at, my question ; Pier

are not exempted, if they are married in this island’

I went home very melancholy at this answer, for the fear of
my wife dying first, and my beng interred alive with her, occa-
sioned me very mortifying reflections. But there was no remedy:
I must have patience, and submit to the will of God. I trembled,
however, at every little indisposition of my wife; but alas! in a
little time my fears came upon me all at once, for she fell ill, and
died in a few days.

You may judge of my sorrow; to be interred alive seemed to me
as deplorable an end as to be devoured by cannibals. But I must -
submit; the king and all his court would honour the funeral with
their presence, and the most considerable people of the city would

R