The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-02
BURNING OF A HINDOO RAJAH.

EfOHt the hUttfi QJ ftOfeHct'
The Ralah of Kolapore, who died yester-
day, was little m .e than twenty years of age,
and was travelling for his education. He had
been brought up at Bombay, and his sove-
reignty extended over apopulation of 100000
inhabitants The extreme darkness of his
complexion did not prevent him from being
a handsome young man, of middle height,
with broad chest, and singularly- expressive
large eyes. In the course of his travels he
caught, while skating at Inspruck, the germs
of the illness which the severity of that
climate rapidly augmented. 1t was necessary
to convey him to his bedroom Immediately
on his arrival in Florence. He received the
regular attendance of two ERglish physicians,
MN. Frectzer and Brow (2), who called in for
consultation ProfessorsCiprianaa and Ghinozzi.
Whilst following the prescriptions of these
physicians, the traditional Hindoo means were
not neglected, such as keeping
NEAR THE PATIENT DOMESTIC ANIMALS,
believed to act as absorbents of the noxious
principles, or at least as preservatives aud
disnfectants for the attendants of the patient
These animals ought to have been thrown
from the windows into the street; but as that
could not be practised here, they we're simply
thrown into a court yard. Notwithstanding
the various kinds of treatment the prince
always got worse. Unable to remain any
longer in bed, he insisted on being
LAID ON THE CARPET
with his legs crossed; in this posture he died,
and was found by DR.. Passigli, whose duty it
was, as district medical officer, to verify the
disease. Later the corpse was examined by
DR.. Bargiotti The aide-de-camp of the
Prince, assisted by the members of the British
Legation, took the necessary steps at the
municipality to have the funeral rites per-
Termed according to the Hindoo fashion. NJ.
Ciotti, a municipal funtionary, acted as inter
prefer to the aide-de-camp, who spoke only
English, and the register of the death was
drawn up in has presence in the Office of Gov
ernment Registration. The municipality per-
mitted the ceremony to take place; certain
other authorities raised difficulties which, how
ever. were soon removed.
THE CEREMONY
was fixed for l o'clock after midnight, at the
extreme point of the Cascine, Just by the
side of the river, in accordance with the pre-
scription of Vishnu. The pro-syndic charged
Drs. Bargiotti and Passjgli, NJ Ciotti and
the head of the municipal police to be in at
tendance. Besides, measures had been
taken, in concert with the Government po-
lice authorities, that the Gardes de Vile,
with their commanding officer, and the
Guards of Public Safety should be in attend
ance. In the evening tho corpse was pre-
pared and dressed in splendid robes The
head was covered with turban bearing the
distinctive marks of the rank of the deceased,
and over this was stretched large scarlet
mantle, richly embroidered with gold. The
arms had bracelets, and the neck pearl
necklace. At 1 o'clock in the morning the
corpse was placed in an omnibus, in which
the attendants of the prince took their seats.
Behind the omnibus came other carriages,
with the persons we have already referred to,
and many other carriages filled with sight
seers. On arriving at the spot referred to,
- H.
-, was expected, especially of ladies; and there
~as also the Chevalier Amour, the head of
the Government police.
A funeral pile was prepared: it was about
r Al feet in height and about feet in length
and 49 feet in breadth The corpse had been
stretched on the ground, betel was placed in
the mouth, whilst Brahmin wearing large
4 robe of white linen covering the head offered
up prayers whilst kneading dough. The at
tendants scattered on the pile camphor and
various kinds of perfumes The death hav-
ing again been officially verified, the corpse
was placed on the pile, and the board on
which it had been stretched out Immediately
removed.
PERFUMES AND ESSENCES
were again strewed over the corpse, and the
dough broken into pieces, placed by its side
More wood placed round the corpse enve-
loped it as if in q case closed over by the
while camphor and other perfumes were being
constantly thrown on the pile At o'clock
the whole was covered with fagots they were
set fire to at different points, and flame of
great brightness shot out in the direction of
Arno, into which there was at the same time
thrown the board on which the corpse had
been laid. About this time many persons
quilted the scene. The Indians continued
to keep the fire alive, and to throw on it per-
fumes, so as to prevent the smell of the burnt
flesh from being perceived. The police and
some of the municipal functionaries remained
on the spot until o'clock in the morning.
At 8 o'clock water was thrown on
THE sMoULDERING ASHES.
When completely extinguished the remains
of the corpse were rehgiously gathered
together and placed in a porcelain vase
Everything which had formed part of the
pile was thrown into the water by two In.
dians, who went into the middle of the river
The spot was then swept, fresh earth was
thrown on it, and traced in the form of
heart, around which were placed small yes
sells filled with rice. Then all the Indians
knelt and prayed with their faces to the
ground. They then departed, taking will
them the funeral urn. The ceremony wa
finished. The bones preserved in the vast
will at a later period be thrown into thu
Ganges, for the Indians believe that thos
whose bones are thrown into that river viii
enjoy a million of happy years.
"A child about four years of age, who wa
abandoned by wandering party of gypsies las
summer, in Ottawa county, Ohio, has sine