214 ALI BABA AND

quite out of sight, for fear he should have the
curiosity to return and dodge her; she then went
home.

By the time Morgiana had warmed some water
to wash the body, Ali Baba came with incense to
embalm it, after which it was sewn up in a wind-
ing-sheet. Not long after, the joiner, according |
to Ali Baba’s orders, brought the bier, which
Morgiana received at the door, and helped Ali
Baba to put the body into it; when she went to
the mosque to inform the imaum that they were
ready. The people of the mosque, whose busi-
ness it was to wash the dead, offered to perform
their duty; but she told them that it was done
already.

Morgiana had scarcely got home before the
imaum and the other ministers of the mosque
arrived. Four neighbours carried the corpse on
their shoulders to the burying-ground, following
the imaum, who recited some prayers. Morgiana,
as a slave to the deceased, followed the corpse,
weeping, beating her breast, and tearing her hair ;
and Ali Baba came after with some neighbours,
who often relieved the others in carrying the
corpse to the burying-ground.

Cassim’s wife stayed at home mourning, utter-
ing lamentable cries with the women of the