FUNERAL PROCESSION.
Lane’s Modern Egyptians]
[Page 477
or sometimes other words. They are followed by some male relations and friends of the deceased, and, in many cases, by two or more persons of some sect of darweeshes, bearing the flags of their order. This is a general custom at the funeral of a darweesh. Next follow three or four or more schoolboys; one of whom carries a “mus-haf” (or copy of the Kur-án), or a volume consisting of one of the thirty sections of the Kur-án, placed upon a kind of desk formed of palm-sticks, and covered over, generally with an embroidered kerchief. These boys chant, in a higher and livelier voice than the Yemeneeyeh, usually some words of a poem called the “Hashreeyeh,” descriptive of the events of the last day, the judgment, etc.; to the air here noted.
Sub - há - na men an - sha-s - su - war Wa-
’a-l - ’e - bád[[616]] bi-l - mót ka - har.
The following is a translation of the commencement of this poem:—
“[I extol] the perfection of Him who hath created whatever hath form;