The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1870-07-14
WORLD.
So =
HINDoo WORSHIP.

Bit the chief attraction of Benares on that
glorious morning lay in its scenes OF animated
life The banks, tinted with many co'orea
cloths spread out to dry, were resonaat with
the progress of industrial employments, the ma
son. SAWYER and carpenter being severally VS.
ible Mt work in their sheds, picturesque
crowd in snowy vestments of red. green, or
yellow. moved up and down the step oil the
great Qhaut branching off in little streams oy
invisible streets or passages ut either size, ana
swarming OUT and IN through the shadowy per-
spective of the main street In front. The city
seemed to be astir us if on some great holiday
occasion, and we, learned with surprise that
we were witnessing an occurrences OF every
day life. 1t was the proper hour OF devotion,
when no good citizen of Benares who coveted
the favor of the. gods would fail to kneel in
prayer at the brink of the Ganges. if not to
immerse himself wholy in its turbid waters.
Among the congregated thousands OF both
sexes, every individual was or had been en-.
gagged in the net of prayer. Some were bath
ing; some standing solennly In the water with
uplifted hands. Hundreds sat shaded by huge
umbrellas in covered rats, dressing and dis
robing Every simple processes), or diligently
mumbling long prayers amid the chatter oi
their companions; while the bank was lined
with the bending figures Of pilgrims filling
their brass lotas with the holy fluid wherrwith
10 sprinkle the affairs ut the city gods. On an
isolated stone pillar, built (for devotional pnr
poses, presune) we'll out in the stream, a hui
man form, in monkish STROUD knelt motion-
less in prayer. like a sculptared image OF ador-
alton. In little square caves or cells construct
ed ut intervals beside the river, undraped
priests OF the Gauges crouchsd. like series OF
i'll favored family portraits framed IN stone.
ready in this comfortless receipt at custom 10
impart their blessings to those who might do
sire to purchase the boon.
Right over their shaggy heads. on the Hat
block of masonry forming the roofs at these
dens, other devoters were engaged in the Ut
tcrasce of lnud prayers accompanied By niul-
Bile grnuiexions One individual was especially
conspicuous for pious enthusiasm, standing up
right on his pedestal and gesticulating violently
ut the sun, precisely Us il he were accusing the
lumnary vi some tnisdrmeanor, aud daring it
10 mortal combat-an exercise which h- alter
mated with repeated acts of prostitution Mt the
Termination OF each. striking, with no gentle
tap. his brow against the stone. Approaching
the burning ghaut,' everywhere an insiitu.
ton of the Gangrsl We found the place black
and charred with yet smoking cinders. Tor, ne
has been already limited, the hideuus practice
ot partially consuming the corpse with hre, aud
thus launching il into the stream is popular
mode among Hindoos OF dealing with their
dead wherever the Gauges is accessible. In con.
secrut-. as it is supposed to do. every wreck Of
humanity committed TO its keeping. Hence
such varieties in the Wild spectacle before Us.
"a couple Ut pariah dngs mt th. brink 1T the
river, d-vouring what had been lett by the
flames Of contiguous pyre. II appeared.
however. that IN occasional horror oi this
kind minglng with the bathers served nrith-r
tn disturb their equauitnity nor TO aIlay their
thirst