The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-04-20

we see on tins drive rich Parsees. out
with their equipages; aud some rich
HIndoos, too. There is Parsee thea
tire here, in Bombay, but it is too hot to
shu. ones self up 10 hot walls, these
hot nights. The Hindoos have not vet
reached theatrical refinements; bat their
festivals, and show festivals, too. are
iuuumcrable There is dreadlulsight
at times, here in Bombay, even 10 an
old traveller like myself, who has reach
ed the na ad irari of Horace almost to
the pertectiOn--and that is, Parsoe
iuoeral--a Parsee--iutcrment MOI
burialf No la Hindoo incremation
burning up Of the bodyY Mol But
| do not know what to call il, and
heace, must describe IT, Par8ees die,
OF course, and are never buried. like
Christians, or Mahometans, or burnt
like the Hindoos, but taken to a high
tower, oo Malabar Hill, soon after death,
and th1re, naked, on an open CRATE, left
TO be eaten up by the vultures; and their
bones, when the flesh is gone. drop
through the CRATE into vault below
The vullures have learned to snuff
Parsee funeral 10 the distance, aud
hover over it, and croak about it; aud
no sooner is the corpse left on the graf
lng, than they enter upon the scramble
tor the flesh that is on il. They tell
mel don't vouch for this, though
that at times, in the fashionable quar-.
ters Of Malabar Hill, on veraudah, is
dropped stray finger, or toe, that the
yulture has found rather indigestible.
The Bombayans don't seem TO think
much of all this. 1t strikes me as the
strangest, most starting of things have
yet to record in all my ramblings.
Long ago have 1 given up seeing
heathen temples. One wearies, after a
while, in Europe, even, of cathedrals,
TO say nothing Of churches; but 10 the
East | have seen here so many gods.
(they make them, by the way, 10 Man
chester, now, for export to India, that
| had resolved never again to enter
Buddhist or lindoo temple. But, on
an Island about SIX miles from Bombay.
is one, which has SO great uamo-,hat
is, is so famous-that | went with n
pleasant party in a sail boat to have
luncheon in it, and good time gener.
ally. The temple is called the Cave
Temple Of Elephants. The Hindoos
picked out romantic island for their
great temple, aud in solid rock under
two hills, cut out a temple-wi,h
what instruments, who knows y-and
hoio long, who can tell2 The work is
a wonder, almost as much of a wonder
as the Pyramids, and more than the
Sphynx. We go up to it, from the
water about half mile, on stone steps,
stone ascen ling pavement, the avenue
walled with stone On both sides. Two
ponderous pillars aud two pilastcrs.
forming three openings uud r steep
rock, ovcrhuug by brushwood, first meet
ones eyes The great temple is 1913
feet broad, l3l feet long, and 20 feet
high, the roof being supported by ranges
OF massive pillars, with ornamental capi
tails oil varied designs, all hewn out Of
the soiid rock Opposite the entrance
Is gigantic bust with three heads,
supposed to represent the Hindoo Trini
~ lnere are Two smaller temples, one
on o., eaen SIDE oil the principal one
mere are now 10 priests In this temple,
10 wClsn'p. II Is given up to Bombay
P'c,"" parties ana visitors eat, drink,
anu maze merry III H. we planted our
'ao'e 10 tne openins' with lake like
view 0, tue water before US, that re
uiiuucu me Oh west folnt and, the
ieast .he coolies broush. down to US
from 'he city we enjoyed with a zest,
III the cool air oil the temple cave, with
an appetite INSPIRED by the little boat
voyage IL any reader OF mine should
ever 20 there' let him remember he
must mount on coolies backs, to be
carried TO- and from his boat, SO shallow
are the waters on the shore. | would
iike TO tell you OF the purposes of two
oil the affairs 10 this temple, but l can
oniy Tell verbally, never on paper.
Were you ever invited out to dinner
accepting the invitation, and not know
ing where to go, aud not knowing
enough of Hndostanec to ask ANYBODY 7
Wall, that was my condition. the day Of
the pic nic-dinner. 81 P. ~ nlacs 2
miles off-and how was to cot there ,
Pantomime did the lob FINGERS are
about as good to talk with as tongpes
if YOU have only one word 10 wort on
and that | had-excellent U;naost,neo
The Tower of Babel-pla me on it-.bas
been the cause of mora trouble tbananv.
thingin this world. exeept Motber Eyc,s
dctalcation. pantop,ip,sd into nv din.