Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-02-03
AT THE TOWER OF SILENCE.

Oay 1Siauu Tue low piaiu sWtitS UP FatU.
er suddenly into q hill 200 feet high,
from the top Of which the whole city,
and almost the whole island are visible
to the north aud east, and to the west
and south the wide sea. 1t is . spot
which, without q doubt, presents the
finest view of what has been called one
of the choicest scenes of the world, and
might well. therefore, have been selec-
ted for the gayest villas Of the richest
inhabitants; but it is q fact that, till
the Prince came to India, no European,
except it may have been by stealth, had
set foot upon it. None, certainly, were
privileged toexamine this strange place,
and if any came, which may well be
doubted, at most they could but cast
furtive glance around them, and steal
away again. Two centuries have passed
since. in this then most desolate and
savage spot, gray tower was raised,
no sign Of life or mau's habitation, but
an abode Of death, and SO well called
the Tower of Silence. AS time went
on four other towers were raised aronnd
the first, the Parses, to whom these
towers belonged, grew in wealth and
influence. the whole hill became theirs,
and high encircling wall with iron
gates barred access to any but those of
their own nation. Up to the Prince of
Wales's visit do not only say that no
stranger has visited the spot; l say
more, that no one ever expected to see
it. The Parses are not q prosely tizing
SD; they 1ould not accept proseiytes,
though they came to them voluntarily.
There is veil of mystery and mysti-
cism over much that the Parses do, and
they do not love to talk with strangers
about their sacred things. Next to
the strangeness of the Princes visit it
self the strangest thing which has hap
pened during that visit is the easy way
in which the curtain which has so long
been held up by the Parses round their
tombs has been dropped by them.
The Prince wished to see the Towers
of Silence. Sir Bartle Frere wrote to
the governing body Of the Parses that
the Prince wished it, and 10! it was
done. 1t may be quite true that the
fire worshippers had found that the de-
tractors had made use Of the mystery
in which they shrouded their funeral
rites to invent many calumnies against
them, but still do not think that a
desire to set themselves right with the
world would alone have induced them
to raise the veil. It would never have
been put aside but for the Princes wish
to havo it removed, and so, if his visit
to India should have no other result, it
will have in this brought about one
Of the most curious changes that India
has witnessed. The thing came about so
suddenly that the Secretary of the Par
ses found himself, SO he told me, stand
ing under the wall of the principal
Tower of silence, close to the vast stone
slab on which the corpses are deposi-
ted, explaining from model the inte-
rior economy of the structure to his
Royal Highness and group of his
suite before he had time to prepare
his dress or his thoughts for the occasion.
You may ascend the bill of the Tow
ers of Silence by a log succession of
terraces and fig hts of steps from the
south, or you may drive in by a carriage
read at the northern entrance, and read
as You pass the gate the inscription,
which tells you that the costly road
was made at the expense of the son of
the first baronet, Sir Jamshidje, in hon.
or of his fathers memory. After driv
ing . quarter Of mile you proceed on
foot up long. rocky ascent till You
come to q gate with the warning.
"None but Parses mas enterp' But
the Prince lad unsealed the entrance,
and, in company with the courteous
Secretary of the Parse Governing Com
mittee, [ went in, and found little
way on nv right stone chapel or house
of PRAYER, where the Passes who attend
the fuueriis perform their devotions.
From this spot there is a most en-
chanting and unequaled view over Bonn
bay, which every European visitor
should see If he can. While l sat here
model of tower of silence was brought
and explained to me; the same identical
model which had interested the Prince
and the explanation was given BY the
same expositor. As / listened, two
corpses, one Of which was that of 8
mohed, or priest, were brought up th.
rocky ascent, each followed by about
one hundred farses, in white garments
The biers were carried BY four men, ant
two Others followed, who alone are al
lowed To enter the towers. The Parse'
who walked I'm the procession had thei
garments linked two-and-two, and TIM
bad a mystic meaning.
The towers are circular, and arc 81