Zhilin also went out to look.
They did not put the dead body in a coffin, but wrapped it in linen, and placed it under a plane-tree in the village, where it lay on the sward.
The mulla came; the old men gathered together, their caps bound around with handkerchiefs. They took off their shoes, and sat in rows on their heels before the dead.
In front was the mulla, behind him three old men in turbans, and behind them the rest of the Tatars. The mulla lifted the dead man's head, and said, "Allah!" (That means God.) He said this one word, and let the head fall back. All were silent; they sat motionless.
Again the mulla lifted the head, saying, "Allah!" and all repeated it after him,—
"Allah!"
Then silence again.
The dead man lay on the sward; he was motionless, and they sat as though they were dead. Not one made a motion. The only sound was the rustling of the foliage of the plane-tree, stirred by the breeze.
Then the mulla offered a prayer. All got to their feet; they took the dead body in their arms, and carried it away.
They brought it to a pit. The pit was not a mere hole, but was hollowed out under the earth like a cellar.