which was not now visible owing to an intervening grove of tall trees,
and was surprised to discover a troop of about fifteen persons advancing
along the valley in my direction. Before them marched a tall
white-bearded old man; next came eight men, bearing a platform on their
shoulders with some heavy burden resting upon it; and behind these
followed the others. I began to think that they were actually carrying a
corpse, with the intention of giving it burial in that very pit beside
which I was standing; and, although it looked most unlike a funeral, for
no person in the procession wore black, the thought strengthened to a
conviction when I became able to distinguish a recumbent, human-like
form in a shroud-like covering on the platform. It seemed altogether a
very unusual proceeding, and made me feel extremely uncomfortable; so
much so that I considered it prudent to step back behind the bushes,
where I could watch the doings of the processionists without being
observed.

Led by the old man--who carried, suspended by thin chains, a large
bronze censer, or brazier rather, which sent out a thin continuous
wreath of smoke--they came straight on to the pit; and after depositing
their burden on the grass, remained standing for some minutes,
apparently to rest after their walk, all conversing together, but in
subdued tones, so that I could not catch their words, although standing
within fifteen yards of the grave. The uncoffined corpse, which seemed
that of a full-grown man, was covered with a white cloth, and rested on
a thick straw mat, provided with handles along the sides. On these
things, however, I bestowed but a hasty glance, so profoundly absorbed
had I become in watching the group of living human beings before me; for
they were certainly utterly unlike any fellow-creatures I had ever
encountered before. The old man was tall and spare, and from his
snowy-white majestic beard I took him to be about seventy years old; but