The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-04-24

puciS uuihcu Jul uhouBupo, ioi 'uo NV
ment, upon The strange process of dis
posing Of the remains of the dead
What" we inquired, sis done will
the ashes which remain from the fires p
"They scatter them on the bosom o
the sacred river
At this point we entered crowd o
Observation-Disclosures and gayly-deco
rated barges, so dense that it was no
without difficulty that we made our wa.
through it to the station assigned us
near the maharajah's barge, from whicl
a calcium light flashed an intense anC
dazzling splendor over the entire city
On either side of this magnificent bargt
was another one, equally gorgeous; thu
one containing the Maharajah of Visi
gapatam, the other, the Maharajah o.
Putteeala. These dignitaries were
guests. The barges of the three prin'
ces were lashed together, and grand
Oriental pavilion extended over them
All the optical effect that can be obtain
ed by fanciful naval designs, brilliant
light, and variegated drapery, by mov
ing crowds and splendid costumes, re
fected by mirrors, crystals and gold
was produced here; while the senses
were ravished by the perfume of burn
ing incense and tropical flowers, Thougl
dazzled by cross-lights, and bewilderef
by the indescribable glitter, we passed
under safe guidance, from our owl
barge to that of the Maharajah of Be
mares. Under the same conduct We
passed through successive chambers,
each varying in enchantment from the
others, until we reached the curtalned
and festooned central saloon, appro.
priated to guests. Here rosewater and
neroli gushed over US from silver and
crystal fountains; champagne and sher
bets sparkled in golden vases; buffet'
groaned with the weight of fruits, con
fectionery and ices; while beautiful
nautch girls in gauzy attire performed
their most sacred and celebrated songs
and dances to their strange music
1t may be imagined we were filled
with emotion, when, in m interval of
this elaborate Asiatic exhibition, the
solemn measure of "Glory Hallelujah
from full European orchestra burst
upon our ears. The performance Of
this great neutrality-suspicious. of the Union
army in the late war, was a thoughtful
recognition on the part of the mahara-
iah of Mr.. Stewards presence, We
took leave of our princcly entertainers
at twelve o'clock, leaving the pageant
of the Ganges to go on during the
whole night for the enjoyment of those
who, unlike ourselves, had strength
enough to endure it.
THE GHAUTs OF THE GANGEs.
Long before John baptized in the
Jordan, the Asiatics had conceived the
beautiful idea that certain rivers are
holy, and that their waters have the
power of cleansing from all SIM" The
Ganges is, as it always has been, that
river of the Hindoos. They must come
hither as pilgrims from the most distant
regions, at least once in II lifetime, and
even once year, if they can. They
come here, moreover, if they can, to
die because, to die in the holy city,
secures direct entrance into paradise
Native princes, successful baboos, and
rich zemindars, please the Bramin
priests and the people, and think also
that they please the gods, by erecting
majestic temples and buildings, costly
marble ghauts for the use of the pill
grims as well as burning ghauts. To
reach these ghauts, the high, steep
banks of the river, for miles in length,
are terraeed with perfect stone steps.
The temples rise to the height OF five,
six, seven, eight, nine stories. They
are built of marble and freestone, pier.
ced with windows of every conceivable
graceful shape, and are extravagantly
ornamented with colennades, corridors,
balconies, inches, large and small
domes, towers, pavilions, and pinnacles,
which are set off with gliding and
bright colors. The mosque, with its
tapering minarets, occasionally inter
jected among the temples, lends apleas-
ing relief to the Hindoo architecture,
while its severe form and outlines seem
to reprove the prolific imagination OF
the HindoOs. A highly-picturesque
seone presented itself on the river bank.
Citizens, pilgrims, men, women, and
children-singly, in groups, and in
throngs-are ascending and descending
the staircases, bearing on their heads
bronze urns and vases, large and small
of forms as graceful as the Etruscan.
Even the stately elephant seems to have
adopted the mystic faith, for we saw
him many times walk down the stair
case, which had been nicely adapted to
the human footstep, fir his trunk, and
solemnly return. Pilgrims were plum
ging into the water from platforms and
boats and barges of fanciful construc-
tion, some in the shape of peacocks,
swans, and fishes. All the devotees
dress IN snow-whits robes as they leave
the water, to give effect to the idea that
immersion purifes. The fnneral-fres
of the previous night are still blazing.
How can they be exting,lished2 All
that are in the city must die, and all
that die are brought here. HAVING