A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

554 The Northern Barbarians
FuneralSo
lb. 27.
communities in proportion to their numbers, and are
allotted to individuals according to rank. The extent of
the land makes the division easy. They never till the same
field two years in succession, yet there is always land to
spare. They do not labor to improve the richness or extent
of the soil by planting orchards enclosing meadows
and irrigating gardens; their sole demand upon the land
is corn. Thus they do not divide the year into as many
seasons as we do. They distinguish winter, spring and
summer, and give them names; but they know neither the
name nor the blessings of autumn.
The funerals are not ostentatious. The only custom
they observe is that of using certain kinds of wood for the
cremation of famous men. They do not load the pyre
with garments or perfumes. The dead man's armor goes
into the flames and in some cases his horse as well. The
tomb is built of turf. They dislike a tall and elaborate
monument; it seems an honor that weighs heavy on the
dead. They soon cease from tears and mourning, but are
slow to forget their grief. "Women must weep" they
say "and men remember."
VI.
The Huns
Physique.
Ammianus
Marcellinus
xxxi. 3.
Out-of-door
Ufe.
lb. 4.
A ficient
World, 533 f.
They are certainly in the shape of men, however uncouth,
but are so hardy that they require neither fire nor
well-flavored food, but live on the roots of such herbs as
they get in the fields, or on the half-raw flesh of any animal,
which they merely warm rapidly by placing it
between
their own thighs and the backs of cheir horses.
They never shelter themselves under roofed houses,
but avoid them as people ordinarily avoid sepulchres as
things not fitted for common use. Nor is there even to be
found among them a cabin thatched with reed; but they