By the forty five Boozes, wherein are deposited the Ashes, it may be conjectured that as many of their Kings lie there, and so the Molotto was informed.
The second for Largeness belongs to the Coffues or Queens, (for, it must be observed, that the Males and Females are never buried in the same Moorzack:) It is built all of white Marble, and is fifty nine Foot square, the inside Wall exactly the same with the outside, but the Floor is of black and white Marble laid in Squares, much like what may be seen in Noblemens Houses in Europe. There are fifty six Boozes of Gold, standing on black Marble Pedestals; there are twelve large Lamps, each with seven Lights, three in each Corner, and one of Silver in the Middle, which burns constantly, as in the King's.
The third belongs to the Acobibs, or Princes; it is also built of white Marble; its Form is exactly round, being seventy nine Foot in Circumference; there are in it fifty three Boozes standing on black Marble Pedestals, with thirteen Lamps of Silver with seven Lights each; twelve of them are plac'd in a circular Form, and the thirteenth in the Middle, which burns constantly, the Cieling is painted green.
The fourth belongs to the Matotzes or Princesses; It is built of a greenish Marble, vein'd with black, being of a circular Form like that of the Acobibs or Princes, and much about the same in Circumference; the inside Wall is of white Marble; the Floor of various Colours, as black, white, and green; and the Cieling which is made in the Form of a Cupola, is yellow: It hath sixty four Boozes, standing on Pedestals of black and white Marble, and eight large Silver Lamps with seven Lights to each, placed in a circular Form, besides one in the middle which burns constantly.
The fifth belongs to the Poramzeps or Male Children of the Prince; it is built of a white Marble, with large black Veins in it, both the inside Wall and Floor being of a light grey Marble; it is thirty Foot square, having nineteen Boozes of Gold, and sixty of Silver, standing on Pedestals of the same Sort of Marble, with the outside Wall; there are in it eight large Silver Lamps, hanging two in each Corner, besides one in the middle which burns continually.
The sixth Moorzack belongs to the Squeenzibs or Female Children of the Prince; it is built of a curious red Marble, with Veins of white running thro’ it, and is twenty eight Foot square, the inside Wall and Floor being of white Marble; it has a hundred and nineteen Boozes of Silver standing on Pedestals of a blewish grey Marble; it has eight Silver Lamps disposed two in a Corner, besides one in the middle that burns continually.
All these here taken Notice of, belong to those of the King's own Blood, but as it may seem a little too tedious to be particular in the Description of them all, we shall only observe who the great Persons are, who are distinguished by having Moorzacks assigned to them alone, or to their Families.
First, There is one appointed for the burying Place of the Baamzan or chief Priest; one to the Baulumzu or Treasurer; one to the Jocybauthaux or chief Councellor; one to the Moorenzep or Head General; — one to the Caffa or Secretary; — one to the Paremzebs, which are a few People so called by Way of Title, and are their chief Nobility; — one to their Wives, whom they call Tepshoyes; — one to the Morepzus or Generals of the Elephants; — one to the Hammons or Governors of Towns; — one to the Hoyzepa or Head Teacher of the Elephants; — one to the Sancof or Head Doctor.
There is also one particularly kept for such as not being otherwise intitled to this Honour, shall perform some brave Action in the War — there is one belonging to the Zanshaw or Master of the King's Music — One to the Divatzabowes or Concubines of the King — One to the Panpuzams or Male Children of the King's Concubines — One to the Parrasquas or Male Children of the High Priest — One to the Gauzets or Wives of the chief General — One to the Matotzas or Wives of the Governors of Towns — One to the Hoydenebs or Wives of the Treasurer — One to the Okenzegs or Wives of the chief Councellor.
But when I mention a Moorzack to belong to the Treasurer, or to the General, it must not be understood to be for the Use of him and his Heirs, but the next Person who succeeds in his Post is to be buried there, and his Heirs are no Ways intitled, unless they happen to succeed him in his Post.
These are all built of Marble of different Colours, some larger, and some less, some square, others quite round, some having a small Spire at Top, and others without; yet the Ornaments within are as rich in many of them, as in those belonging to the King or Prince — As for Example, in the Moorzack of the Baamzan or high Priest, of the Baumlozn or Treasurer, of the Morewzep or General, and of the Caffa or Secretary, the Boozes are all Gold; in others there are some of Gold and some of Silver, and considering what a great Number there are of them, these Monuments contain a vast Wealth.
When the King, Prince, or any other Person who is intitled to a Place in one of these Monuments dies, the Corps is immediately stripp'd naked, (let it be Man or Woman) after which, it is laid upon a Bier, and a thin Piece of Purple Silk being thrown over it, it is carried to be lain in State for some Days to a certain House, or Hall, built for that Purpose, a little Way without the City. — This Building consists of one large Room, sixty Foot in Length, and twenty six broad, being thirty Foot high, and flat at Top; the Stone is a curious white Marble, it is illuminated within with a great Number of Silver Lamps; in the middle stands a white Marble Table, supported by six Marble Pedestals about three Foot high, on which is laid the Body.
When they intend to remove it to the Hoynabs or burying Place, they exactly observe the Setting of the Sun; at which Time comes the chief Priest, attended by all those who have a Right to be buried in these Places (for no others must assist upon these Occasions) and drawing out a sharp Instrument, which they call a Mockdoo, and which serves the Use of a Knife, he opens the Body of the deceas'd, takes out the Heart, and delivers it into the Hands of the nearest Relation, who stands ready for that Purpose, at the Priest's right Hand; when this is done, the Body is carried to the lower End of the Hall, where a Fire is prepared in a Hole, five Foot deep in the Ground, and about as many broad; the Body is put into the said Fire, where it is consumed; then the Heart is again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who places it in a little Stone-Pot, and puts it into the Fire, where it remains till it is dried to a Powder; then the Ashes of the Body being dried up, are put into the Booze, as is also the Heart; after which, they proceed to the Hoynatz, the nearest Relation carrying the Booze. When they arrive at the Moorzack, which upon this Occasion is all illuminated, the Booze is again delivered into the Hands of the Priest, who going into the Moorzack alone, shuts the Door after him, he remains a Quarter of an Hour, places the Booze upon the Pedestal prepared for it, and then returns, which makes an End of the whole Ceremony.
All this is done without a Word; nor is there any Sign of Sorrow or Lamentation amongst the Kindred, of the deceas'd, nor is it the Custom ever to speak of him, or name him at all after he is dead.
Thus we have given an Account of the Order and Ceremonies of their Funerals, and of the Magnificence of their Monuments, which make a most glorious Show at a Distance, nor are they less beautiful when near, the Materials of which they are built being very fine, and their Scituation delightful.
But as to their Religion we can give but imperfect Accounts, for they scarce know what it is themselves; they never ask'd the Molotto one Word concerning his Religion, and when he enquired of theirs, they had very little to say about it, but told such an incoherent Story, that he could make neither Head nor Tail of it. There is a Mosque or Temple about half a Mile out of the City, of which they give a fabulous Account, as that it was built in one Night, but no Man could tell how, or by whom; but their general Opinion was, that it was built by Hios God of the Sea, and at certain Times they used to flock, and pay a Kind of Devotion there, but they could not tell why or wherefore. However by the best Observations our Molotto could make, it appear'd to him as if they had several Worships amongst them, for he took Notice that some paid their Devotions to a little Image, not unlike a Wolf, which they kept in their Houses, and which are so common, that the poorer Sort of People make them of Bits of Wood, of about four