A Mahommedan Funeral.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XII, Issue 587, 8 February 1881, Page 7

A Mahommedan Funeral.

The very unusual incident in Sydney of a funeral according to the Mahommedan rites of burial occurred, in the case of a Lascar seaman named Munza Raimon, who had died suddenly on board the P. and O. steamship Siam, from heart disease. The body was removed to the deadhouse, Circular Quay, and a medical certificate was given by the ship's surgeon, Dr Maguire, as to the cause of death. About 30 or 40 Lascar seamen, on board the Siam, were engaged about three hours on Wednesday afternoon washing and anointing the body in lemon flower oil, and afterwards one of their number read extracts from the Koran, the remainder singing the in a very impressive manner, accompanied,with many genuflections. The body was afterwards enveloped in a clean white Bheet, the ends being tied over the head and at the feet, and the middle encircled by a sash, and it was carefully placed fin a coffin of the whitest deal, planed smooth, which could be obtained. No • white man was allowed to take any part whatever in the ceremony, and even the undertaker was not allowed to put the screws into the lid, as it is considered, that the body is desecrated if any part of its surroundings are touched by an alien to their religion. The Lascars requested permission to sit up with the b6dy all night, but as that request could not be allowed they locked the doors and left the key in the care of Sergeant Prince Little,,' of the W;. P., for the night. On Thursday morning, about 8 o'clock 10 of the Lascars took the coffin out of the deadhouse and placed it in the hearse, and, on its arrival at the station, into the train. On arrival at the Haslem's Creek station the coffin was taken out of the hearse-van and covered with a white sheet, six of the men carrying it; and the other four walking by' the side, the whole keeping up a chorus of "Allah!" " Illah !" without cessation, at every step. The body was carried head first instead of feet first, as we are accustomed to see 'it done. On arrival at the grave the coffin was placed on the ground, and turned, sothatthe feet pointed directly to the sun, that no shadow should be cast. The Lascars then took off their boots, went to the creek, and washed their feet. On their return to the grave, barefooted, j the man; who was- to officiate as the priest placed a blue handkerchief on the'ground, and stood one pace behind it, and the rest of the men stood in rows behind him. They all folded their arms, and, taking their time from the priest, raised their hands up to their ears, exclaiming at the same time, " Allah Akbar!" (Allah i 3 merciful). This was repeated about nine or ten times.' They then lowered the coffin down, all the men standing round the edge of the grave, the white cover from the coffin being held ever their hands, like an awning, by four of the 'men. When the ropes were disengaged from the .coffin each man took a clod of earth and dropped it into the grave. They then proceeded to fill in the grave, which was done in a very few minutes. One of. the men planted; a small bush at the head, and another poured a bucket of water the whole length of the grave. The priest then took his copy of the Koran out of a handkerchief, in which he had carried it, and commenced reading the burial service—all the men sitting on Iheir hams round the grave. This service consisted chiefly in calling on the names of Hoosim and Heessem, two brothers who were murdered about the year 1100, and who are the mediators with Mohammed and Allah for the souls of the departed. The service lasted about 10 minutes.' After the ceremony was completed the Lascars left the cemetery laughing and shouting, and apparently in the best of spirits. The ceremony attracted a good deal of attention from other funeral parties, and many of them crowd«d round the grave to the inconvenience of the Lascars, who had scarcely room to perform the ceremony.— Town and Goxmtry Journal.