CHAPTER VI

Death, Burial, and the Hereafter

THE

" Shall we rest here,

And by relating tales of others' griefs

See if' twill teach us to forget our own?"

SHAKESPEARE.

HE howling of dogs, especially at night, is sup-posed to be due to their seeing the Yam Dut, orthe Angel of Death. This is regarded as a portent ofapproaching death. A falling star is also supposed tobe connected with the decease of some great personage.When the end of a sick person is apparently drawingnear, he is taken off his bed and placed on the ground.At this time it is customary to put curds in his mouth,

I Scott's" Ivanhoe":" The apprehension of impending evilwas inspired by no less respectable a prophet than a large,lean, black dog, which, sitting upright, howled most piteouslyas the foremost riders left the gate.' I like not that music,Father Cedric,' said Althelstane.' In my opinion we had betterturn back.' Dickens," Martin Chuzzlewit"( ed. 1850, page 192):When Jonas Chuzzlewit is under the impression that he hasmurdered his father," the howling of the dog before the housefilled him with terror he could not disguise." Notes and Queries,vol ii., series 6th, page 386:" The howling of a dog at night isgenerally regarded as foreboding ill by the English peasantry,believing, like their ancestors, that it is in the power of the dog tosee more han human eye can see."

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