The graves lie east and west, and are lined with stone. The corpse is taken out of the bier, and put in a posture between sitting and lying on the right-side, with the head to the westward, so that the face may be to the south, that is, towards _Mecca_; a small portion of earth being put behind the body to keep it steady, the grave is covered with long stones, which go across, and prevent the earth they put over from falling in upon the corpse. The _imaum_ throws on the first handful of earth, saying at the same time a prayer for the soul of the deceased[475], and exhorting such as hear him to be mindful of their end. After him every one present throws also a handful of earth, saying, God be merciful unto the deceased person. This done, the grave is filled up. At each end of their graves is set up a stone, upon which are commonly wrote some prayers, and the name of the person there interred. Some have the upper part of the head-stone cut into the form of turbant for a man, or an old-fashioned sort of head-dress if a woman; and as they never open the old graves in less than seven years, or seldom so soon, their cemetaries occupy a very considerable space round the city. The nearest relations go to pray at the grave on the third, seventh, and fortieth days, as also that day twelve-month, after the person’s decease; and on every one of those days a quantity of victuals is dressed, and given to the poor. The women go to the tomb every _Monday_ or _Thursday_, and carry some flowers or green leaves to dress it with. They make a great shew of grief, often expostulating heavily with the dead person, “Why he should leave them, when they had done every thing in their power to make life agreeable to him?” This, however, by the men is looked upon as a kind of impiety; and, if over-heard, they are chid severely for it: and I must say the men generally set them a good example in this respect, by a patient acquiescence in the loss of their nearest relations, and indeed shew a firm and steady fortitude under every other kind of misfortune. The men wear no mourning; but the women put on their gravest-coloured cloaths, and the head-dress is of a dark brick-dust colour. They also lay aside their jewels, and other pieces of female finery, for the space of twelve months, if they mourn for their husband, and six months if for their father. These periods, however, they do not observe very strictly. But before the widow marries again, she must mourn forty days for her deceased husband, without going out of the house, or speaking to any person more than what is absolutely necessary; and this prohibition extends even to her nearest relations. This term of forty days does not commence from the demise or burial; but, on the contrary, is rarely observed till several months after.