This Example so terrified the poor Molotto, that in fifteen Years he was in that Place he never ventured beyond the Limits, except when he was sent for by the Accabo, or to attend a Burial, which he was obliged to do when any of the Passaus or Guards died, for they were not buried among the Moorzacks, no more than any of the other of the common People.
But it is Time that we describe this Place, which is not only the greatest Curiosity of this Country, but would pass for a Piece of Magnificence in those Nations where Arts and Sciences are known, and it is fit to be the more particular in it, as it may appear strange, that those People who are Barbarians in all other Respects, should observe so much Pomp and Decoration in their funeral Ceremonies.
This burying Place, which they call Hoynatz, is pleasantly situated in a beautiful Valley between two Hills, about two English Miles from the City of Magadoxa; there are in it twenty nine Moorzacks, or Tombs, all which were first built by the Kings, at whose Expence the Passaus or Guards are kept, their being four to each Moorzack, who watch two and two by Turns, who take Care of the Lamps, which continually burn within, and keep every Thing clean to the greatest Nicety.
Tho’ these Moorzacks may be said properly all to belong to the King, yet several other Persons of the first Rank are buried in them, by the King’s special Favour, for he sometimes gives a Moorzack to some Favourite, as a burying Place for his Family; notwithstanding which Gift, when any of the said Family dies, the King’s Permission must be asked anew for burying him in the Moorzack, the Reason is, that it frequently happens that when a Person who has this Kind of Right to be buried in a Moorzack disobliges the King, he takes no Notice of it as long as the Party lives; but when he dies, he forbids him to be buried in the Moorzack, by way of Punishment.
This may shew what a Veneration they have for these Places, when they seem to think that all Happiness, as well as Honour, consisted in laying the Body after Death in one of these Moorzacks; and, indeed, it is one of the chief Pleasures of the King, as well as of the common People to visit these Places often, which they do with a Kind of religious Respect.
The largest Moorzack or Tomb of all is the King’s own, no other Person being ever buried therein; it is eighty Foot square, built of black and white Marble mix’d, with a Kind of Cupola at Top, and over it a long Spire, the Inside, both Floor and Sides, is white Marble curiously polished, and the Cieling or Cupola painted green: There are in it forty five Boozes of Gold, standing on as many Pedestals of black Marble, of about four Foot high.
A Booze is a kind of round Pot with a Cover, about eight Inches deep, and five Diameter, in which are placed the Ashes of the Dead of those that are deposited there; I say the Ashes, because the Bodies are first burned.
There are also sixteen large Lamps of Gold, with nine Lights to each, four in a Corner, and one large one in the Middle, with two Lights; the large ones are never lighted but at Funerals, when they make a fine Shew, but that in the Middle burns constantly.
By the forty five Boozes, wherein are deposited the Ashes, it may be conjectured that as many of their Kings lie there, and so the Molotto was informed.
The second for Largeness belongs to the Cossues or Queens, (for, it must be observed, that the Males and Females are never buried in the same Moorzack:) It is built all of white Marble, and is fifty nine Foot square, the inside Wall exactly the same with the outside, but the Floor is of black and white Marble laid in Squares, much like what may be seen in Noblemens Houses in Europe. There are fifty six Boozes of Gold, standing on black Marble Pedestals; there are twelve large Lamps, each with seven Lights, three in each Corner, and one of Silver in the Middle, which burns constantly, as in the King’s.