'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎245] (310/905)

CHAP. XI.] AMUSEMENTS AND OCCUPATIONS.
245
chat and smoke, constitute the occupations and amusements of
the ordinary townspeople. In the country, instead of frequent
ing the bath and coffee-house, the intervals of leisure between
the agricultural labours of the fixed inhabitants, and the
pastoral occupations of the nomadic people, are filled up by
listening to tales, stories, and the recital of portions of the
Koran. Wrestling, and other athletic exercises, serve occa
sionally to vary the seeming monotony of their lives.
Making men's clothes (at least in part), sewing, spinning, Occupations,
• t i • J j. 1 j-1 0 * ™ ie
embroidery, cooking, and keeping accounts, appear to be me women,
ordinary occupations of the women at home ; and garden, or
country parties, chiefly on Friday, with visits to their friends
in the baths, as well as at their houses, constitute the chief
amusements abroad. It is not the custom, even for husbands,
to interfere with these pleasures; and the women of Persia
enjoy more liberty than we are accustomed to associate in
idea with the seclusion of a harem. They have, moreover,
the advantage of a better education than is given to the
ladies in Turkey. In the country the women sew, spin,
bake, cook, prepare milk and cheese, and fetch water ; in
addition to which a portion of the agricultural or pastoral
labour devolves upon them. While engaged in such occupa
tions, they are necessarily less secluded than at other times,
and are only partially veiled.
Unless a death happen to take place during the night, the Funerals,
funeral follows immediately after it. The body is washed
with rose-water; then, being wrapped in a white sheet and
cotton shroud, it is carried on a bier to the grave, where the
priest, having read some passages from the Koran, throws
earth'on the body as it is finally deposited in the ground.
No coffin is provided, and the corpse is placed on its right
side, with its face towards the west. If the deceased be rich,
a funeral feast is kept for several days after the ceremony,
and alms are distributed at particular intervals. But when
a person of rank dies, it is not unusual for the king to com
mand the body to be conveyed to Mesjid-Ali, or one of the
other places of Shi'ah pilgrimage ; followed by his charger
bearing the arms, clothes, &c., of the deceased, and also by