FUNERALS.
121
be remarked that the greater part of these “ blushing brides," these “nervous fine ladies," have been living several years in a state of concubinage with different persons, and are perhaps the mothers of several children ; but still marriage is a state which “ calls up all our hopes and fears," and the black buckras* (as these dashing black people are called in this country) think the ceremony would be incomplete did they not shew forth some emotion, or call up from their source some of those drops that fall, When the young bride goes from her father's hall."
We now come to take a view of their burials. I have in a former chapter made some mention of these ceremonies ; but still there is a great deal to be said, for be it known, a negro funeral is a matter of no small importance. When the intelligence reaches them that one of their friends has departed to another world, many of them immediately flock to the residence of the defunct, and are very ready to assist in the melancholy but necessary offices which are required to be performed. The first consideration of the relatives is to procure a coffin, a decent shroud, and a suit of apparel to inter the corpse in. The coffin is made of deal boards, not over thick, and is covered with black or white cotton cloth, according to the age or state of the individual ; those persons who cannot afford to purchase cotton for this purpose have the coffin painted black or white. Among the higher class of negroes the shroud is made of white mull muslin, but those of less means purchase cotton cambric, while the very poor ones are enveloped in a sheet. If the deceased has a pretty good stock of clothes, the best amongst them are selected for the occasion. Should it be a man who is dead, he is arrayed in his " Sunday clothes," with the exception of coat, shoes, and hat ; but if it is a female, her best * It may be necessary to remark, that the word buckra, in the negro tongue, signifies " a white person ;" but as the smart people I have been describing imitate in everything their fairer brethren, they are ironically termed " black buckras." VOL. II.
G