ABSTRACT
If a person is very ill and his death is held to be immanent, his near relatives living in the same town or village assemble in the room in which he is lying. Should any of them fail to appear, the family of the dying person would look upon it as a sign of enmity and would make it a cause of quarrel. In country places a message may also be sent to relatives in neighbouring villages, who likewise hasten to the death-bed of their friend. No menstruating woman, however, should enter the room, nor any woman who has omitted to clean herself after sexual intercourse. Little children are removed to another house so as not to drive away the angels by improper behaviour (Tangier), or because infants are supposed to be able to hear the talk and crying of the dead (Fez, Ait Waráin).
