The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-01-20
Cremation IN LtQlN,

Burning u an lsdIan P,3scs at Florence.
Florence Correspondence Cincinnati Gazette. :.
Yesterday an affair of unusual occur
renee took place, which was no less than the
burning Of IN Indian Prince. His Highncss
Rajah Murahaja, of Kolaporc, came to Flo
renee for his health, but unfortunately for
him and luckily for those who had never
seen Buddhist funeral, he died on the
30th Of November: He was Prince over
COO, 900 inhabitants of Hindostan, and was
travelling with sixteen Indians and four
Englishmen. He left his own country to
travel for the purpose of education and
pleasure. After his death immediate ap.
plication was made to the city authorities
for permission to burn the body. After 4
few Of the inevitable rcd taps objections
had been smoothed away, the permission
was obtained, and . piece at the end of the
"Casine," ! he park adjoining Florence, was
assigned to the swarthy applicants, on con.
dition tha: the ceremony should be conduct.
cd by night and with the utmost sccrcsy.
However, the clairvoyant reporters, cores
pondents, and about 500 other persons heard
of the affair, and went to SEQ the show.
According to the Indian religion the ccrc-
mony was to take place by the side of .
running stream. 30 that the spot chosen was
in reality at the confluence of tho Arno and
tie Mugnanc. Soon after 4 M, the body
of his Highness arrived,
A pile Of wood had been erected about
six feet long, three wide and three high.
The body was then laid upon the ground,
and gold coin placed upon the mouth. He
was dressed in red satin and silk. A long
tunic or toga reached nearly to the knees,
while red stockings and leather boots CON-
pleted the dress. On his breast there was
an immense number of jcwclcd orders, and
around his neck there was . necklace of
very large pearls, each worth fortune in
itself. Our Protestant idea il that We can.
not carry anything into the next world with
Us, but the Indian doctrine seems to differ.
for il requires that the body shall be burned
with many of the jewels on his person. His
head was covered by black and red tur.
ban. The body was then wrapped in a
large sheet of red silk, with quantities of
perfumes, and laid upon tho funeral pile
with the feet to the east The attendants
then commenced . series of unintelliglble
motions, putting on their turbans and TAX
ing them off, bowing and stretching their
arms in every possible direction, and re-
peating numerous short prayers in Indian,
which l will omit for several reasons Then
they threw more perfumes on the wood and
much fat Then they put more coins on
the breast and in the hands; then more tur-
ban shifting, more prayers and pounds of
camphor; then sandal wood and fat, iuter.
spersed with gestures; then straw, then
wood, then more fat. then more gestures;
then short sermon, which will also omit;
and fiually the torches were applied, and
the whole burst into fierce fame. At the
same moment the plank on which the body
had been borne was thrown into the Arno.
The Indians continued 10 throw perfumes
into the fire during the burning, and offer
more prayers AT 3 O'Clock Z. m. water was
poured on the pile. and the ashes of the
body were religiously collected in . pro-
celain vase, while oil the res: of the mater.
ials that remained were thrown into the
river by two Indians who walled out to the
middle. Earth Was then laid over the spot
in the shape Of . heart, and little vases Of
rice were placed around it. All the Indians
then prayed with their faces toward the
east, after which they went away bearing
tho cinerary urn. The bones will be thrown
into the 0angcs. so that the Prince may
enjoy thousand years of happiness Thus
the necessary rites were performed, but If
the Prince had not been 50 obliging - to
lie 10 Florence. but in his own country, the
ceremonies would have been most magniti-
cent, accompanied with music. . COW adorn.
ed with flowers and a9ost of more uindo.
stance euablcmS. .@.