The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-05 00:00:00

CREMATION OF MR. NARAYAN
WASSODEO.
(From the Times of Ineha, Aug. 6, 1674 )

The remains of the Hon. Narayan Wassodeo,
member of the Legislative Council of Bombay, whose
lamented death through the fall of a building was
reported by telegraph, were solemnly cremated on the
burning ground at Sonapore. The body was placed,
after it was recovered from under the ruins, on the
floor of a large apartment at the rear of one of the
wings of the house, and the female members of the
family, seating themselves around it, gave themselves
up to uncontrollable grief. The unhappy. widow was
overwhelmed by the dreadful calamity which had be-
fallen her. A great number of the leading members
of the European and various native communities
called and took a last look at the remains as they lay
covered with a white robe, the lower part f the face
being alone exposed.
It was at first intended to perform the last offices on
the ground adjacent to the Temple at Walkeshwar,
but ultimately it was considered that the burning.
ground at Sonapore would be a more appropriate
scene, for there Mr. Narayan had at considerable cost,
erected a place of shelter for mourners, planted trees,
and in other ways shown his munificence. The pro-
cession started about 7 p.m. The bier, composed of
two long pieces of bamboo with a couple of cross-pieces,
and covered with a rich white shawl, was upheld by the
deceased's eldest brother and three of his most intimate
friends and relatives -Mr. Rugunath Narayan, Mr.
Shantaram Narayan, and Dr. Shantaram Withul.
The sacred tire, which had been kindled with due
ceremonies at the house, VIDA carried in front in a
brazen vessel by the deceased's son. The funeral was
largely attended not only by members of his own caste,
but by those of other castes and denominations.
When the procession reached Sonapore, the bier was
placed on the ground while the pyre was being con-
structed. Men with short crowbars made six holes in
the earth, and in each of those was placed a rough
piece of timber about four or five feet high. The posts,
ranged two and two, were about a yard distant from
each other. Time loge about six feet long each were
placed on pieces of wood between each pair of uprights,
so as to allow a tree draught under the whole.
A number of smaller logs were placed on these
large ones, and were covered with sandalwood,
which made a sort of bed for the reception of the
body. While this was being done, a number of
torches of sandal-wood were being carefully ignited
by the deceased's son at the sacred fire which
he had brought with him for the purpose. Prayers
were said while the ignition was in progress. All being
ready, the bier was brought to the side of the pyre,
and the body was divested of all covering, except a
cloth around the loins. It was then lifted on to the
bier, which was by this time between three and four
feet high. The upright posts confined the body on
either side, and prevented the possibility of its rolling
off. Small blocks of sandal-wood of various lengths—
from six inches to two feet— were placed lightly on the
body. The deceased's son then took a brazen vessel
full of water and carefully sprinkled a circle on the
earth around the funeral pile. He next seized a brand
from the sacred fire and applied it to some dried
leaves or similar combustibles placed under the
pyre. That did not set fire to the pile, however,
and was not intended to be more than a com-
pliance with the ceremonial; the brand was red, but
runt blazing, and a spark or two only fell from it. The
relatives were then, as is usual ui such cases, led
away from the pyre by the friernb around, so as to
spare their feelings as much as possible. When they
were taken a few yards off and their backs turned to
the pyre, large logs similar to those at the base were
placed over the body, which now became completely con-
cealed—all but the feet, which were left exposed either
by accident or design. The friends applied matches to
the sandalwood brands, and, when they blazed up, set
fire to the combustibles. Owing, doubtless to the
dampness of the ground, and occasional drops of rain,
it wee a matter of some difficulty to get the mass to
burn. Cocoanut oil was thrown on the wood, and
screens were held by men so as to regulate the draught,
and after a long interval the pyre blazed up fiercely.
In threa hours only a handful of ashes remained of him
who was but that morning the influential leader of the
Hindoo community, full of life and hope.