ALI BABA AND THE FORTY ROBBERS. 413

Baba Mustapha agreed to this, and suffered himself to be led
by the slave, who, when she had reached the place she had men-
tioned, bound a handkerchief over his eyes, and conducted him
to the house of her deceased master; nor did she remove the
bandage until he was in the chamber where the body was de-
posited, each quarter in its proper place. Then taking it off,
“Baba Mustapha,” said she, “I have brought you here, that
you might sew these pieces together. Lose no time, and when
you have done I will give you another piece of gold.”

When Baba Mustapha had finished his job, Morgiana bound
_ his eves again before he left the chamber, and having given him
the money, according to her promise, she conducted him to the
place where she had first put on the handkerchief; and having
again taken it off, she left him to return to his house, following
him, however, with her eyes until he was out of sight, lest he
should have the curiosity to return and watch her movements.

Morgiana had heated some water to wash the body of Cassim ;
and Ali Baba, who entered just as she returned, washed it, per-
fumed it with incense, and wrapped it in the burying-clothes,
with the accustomed ceremonies. The undertaker also brought
the coffin. which Ali Baba had taken care to order. in order
that he might not observe anything particular, Morgiana took
the coffin in at the door, and having paid and sent him away,
she assisted Ali Baba to put the body into it. When he had
nailed down the boards which covered it, she went to the mosque
to give notice that everything was ready for the funeral. The
people belonging to the mosque, whose office it is to wash the
bodies of the dead, offered to come and perform their usual
function ; but she told them that all was done and ready.

Morgiana was scarcely returned when the iman and the other
ministers of the mosque arrived. Four of the neighbours took
the coffin on their shoulders, and carried it to the cemetery, fol-
lowing the iman, who repeated prayers as he went along. Mor-
giana, as slave to the deceased, went next, with her head un-
covered, bathed in tears, and uttering the most piteous cries
from time to time, beating her breast, and tearing her hair, and
Ali Baba closed the procession.

As for the widow of Cassim, she remained at home to lament
and weep with the women of the neighbourhood, who, according
to the usual custom, repaired to her house during the ceremony