The Desert gateway, Biskra and thereabouts . AN ARAB FUNERAL 123 No coffin is used, and the simple nature of thebier can be seen in my photograph. On the morningof burial, notice is sent to the men at the cemetery,and they make a rough beginning of the grave,which, however, is not completed until the arrivalof the cortege. It is considered a very meritorious act to carry thebier, and men will beg of the bearers to be allowedto take their place for a short time. Amongst someMoslems there is a tradition that no one should pre-cede a corpse, as it is the office of angels to go this is
The Desert gateway, Biskra and thereabouts . AN ARAB FUNERAL 123 No coffin is used, and the simple nature of thebier can be seen in my photograph. On the morningof burial, notice is sent to the men at the cemetery,and they make a rough beginning of the grave,which, however, is not completed until the arrivalof the cortege. It is considered a very meritorious act to carry thebier, and men will beg of the bearers to be allowedto take their place for a short time. Amongst someMoslems there is a tradition that no one should pre-cede a corpse, as it is the office of angels to go this is not recognised at Biskra. The bearersrun to the grave, for the Prophet said—in the Tradi-tions—that this is right, enabling the good personto arrive soon at happiness; if the deceased is a badman, it is well to put wickedness away from onesshoulders as quickly as possible. The funeral procession should always be on foot,for Mohammet reproved certain men who went onhorseback : Have you no shame, since Gods angelsgo on foot and you go upo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectislam, bookyear1910
