Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-08-15
A Hindoo Ceremony

FORTY TWO DAYS OF EAPlAlohA fhANhh
Nothing could be a more singular
contrast than that between the various
religions which centre at Bombay. The
fire worsh;pping Parsee, in whose gorg-
eous remple the sacred fire is ever kept
alight, whence he carries it to his own
hearthstone, has transferred thither the
chief seat of his religion, from its birth
place in the land of Zoroas,er; there,
rising on the summit of Malabar Hill,
above the sparkling waters of the Back
Bay, stands the famous Brabmin Pago.
da. which The heather may not enter,
and the faithful only with unshod feet;
there are to be seen Mohammedan
mosques, with their domes aud their Sc
we're simplicity without aud within; and
there Greek, Roman and Protestant
churches, representing the polyglot
Christianity which has found sojourning
place on the coast of Western India.
A ceremony has just taken place on the
sea shore near Bombay, which at once
suggests the contrasts and similarities
between widely varying religions. 1t
appears that not long ago Bombay be-
came infected with the hitherto purely
western fever of speculation. The rapid
increase of wealth, the opportunities af-
forded to Indian cotton by the American
war, and pet project with the specula-
tors to reclaim the celebrated Back Bay
from the sea, combined 10 bring about
this financial excitement. Hindoo and
Parsee, as well as European, plunged
deep into the Back Bay scheme. AT
last there came great crash, and hun
dreds were beggared in day. The
Hindoos and Parsees had never known
such misfortune; aud with their vivid
imagination, they set to wondering what
could be its spiritual causes. These, to
their superstitious minds. were not far to
seek. II is that most Oriental religions
are, among other things, virtually socie-
ties Tor the prevention of cruelty t. ami
mails. Many birds and beasts are sa-
cred; almost all, especially those which
are not ferocious, are under sort of
kindly superstitious patronage. The
cause of the great financial crash then,
was found in the sacriligious attempt, by
reclaiming Back Bay, to confne the
home of the inhabitants of the sea. The
fish and oysters, the corals and anemones,
the Holsters and eels had been imposed
upon and tyrannized over: hence the
vengeance of heaven. The idea that
they had attempted, like Canute, to force
back the sacred seas and to narrow the
homes of the finny tribes, shocked the
Hindoos and Parsees, who said to each
other that they had committed crime
How could it be expiated? Forthwith
the preparations for great ceremony of
Precipitation were begun. A venerable
Hindoo priest was sent for from the holy
city of Benares, whose sacred qualifca-
tians are that he had tasted nothing but
milk and fruit tor quarter of centu-
ry three vast tent-like temples were
erected on the shores of Back Bay; fire.
pits were dug; "ghee" and black sugar,
sandalwood, betel, and cocoanuts, and
the subtle perfumes for which India is
| famous, we're collected. Then the expi.
atory ceremonies began. Holy "Yogis''
| hab tied in ashes and brown rags, took
their places outside the tents, motionless
day and night, never winking or turning
their heads, though the fashion and
wealth of the Bombay heather rode back
and forth on the smooth reach of sands be
hind them. Meanwhile the priest from
Benares was within one of the tents
praying to Narayen, god of the sea, and
Brahma, to forgive and restore to the
faithful the light of their countenances
while costly incense was burned upon
the affairs. For forty-two days this sin.
gular ceremony, in which two very di
verse and even hostile sects fraternally
joined was continued; then came pro.
cession Of triumph through the BON BAY
streets; and the fish and crabs of the
Back Bay might once more swim with
impunity to the very edge of the purged
shores. Here is the spirit of penance
and faith carried to the extreme of su
perstition; and it is a striking fact thai
The weary men who thus INDUCED in
solemn,sacriices, to expatiate the crime
of restricting the homes of the fishes
are as keen and sharp at bargain, a,
learned in the practical laws of barter
and sale as the veriest Yankee or York
shireman extant.-Appleton's journal.
Hartford, Conn, has young gentle
man operator, who after repeated calli
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