The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20
BATHING AND BURNING.
Benares, the Holy CITY Of the Gnnaes-Its
Funeral Pvres and Monkey Temple.

Calcutta Correspondence Of ne london Telegraph.
In view Mt this moment are thousands
Of natives bathing IN the water. apping it. wash
ING their clOthes-if a waistcloth can I've called
cloihes"-and taking up vessellul Of the
sacred water for the benefit OF their fucnds.
The water il not bright or clean. II might, were
Il not SO sacred. be called very dirty And there
are lust now IL any rate, some thousands Of
people bathing In 1t continually. but II Is the
holy river, and the wOfshppcrs Of tie Gauges
hl their mOuths with the water, lave In IT, drink
Of IT. quite happily. Every dip they take. every
drop they swallow, washes on moral unclennli-
ness. To Us strangers the sght IL amazing. ~
der the shadow Of temple and mansion alike,
troops OF men, women, aud childfen are coming
down tho steps. A short prayer, mOmentafy
uplifting OF the hands, a certain, or rather un-
certain, rolling OF the eyebas. and then n
plunge into the river. All along the bank.
huddled together against the lintng stages, In
the stream up to their uecks, clinEng to the
bamboo posts to which bonts are fastened. every
deyotee Is happy, each ready to pay for garland
OF yellow flowers, each determined to make the
most VI liberation from the I'll deeds OF the
While thinking about this unwonted scene,
tho bOatman attracts attention by touch on
the arm, to say we are opposite the burning
ghaut. To be burned at Calcutta or bombay
may be satisfactory contemplation for the
dying native; but to be placed ON the funcfeal
pyre at Benares. 10 be first OF all washed IN the
Gangos, and then to have his ashes thrown into
the sacred river, is indeed happiness. As we
look ON the snOre, the boat being drawn close
to the edge, curious sight meets our eyes. In
little space. fashioned somewhat after the
shape OF an alIphltheatre, are three burning
heaps of wood. Looking down upon these,
quite thirty feet high above tue pyres, aud en-
veioped In the smoke, are some forty or 1fty
mon and women, perched on tho steps like 80
many rooNs lookup cOmpacently down while
the rss~ain' Of their felatvya are D.,nS con-
Down nt the waters edge, partly in the water,
indeed, are two human bodies One is that Of
woman. the other Of a man; each l. wrapped I'm
white linen, Very little ceremony Is needed,
been prepared for the reception Of the corpse to
be burnt. Tue body - therefore placed by the
so that all the sheet IL covered. Lest there
should he any doubt about tins, however, yes
sci of water Is twice emptied over the hoad Of
the corpse before IL Is removed, and then the
two men 10 attendance, hitting the body, place
II upon the pyre; logs Of wood thrown to them
placed beneath a torch IL fetched aud the light
applied; there Is a blaze, and-of the rest
Benares Is a holy city II is notable in many
other respects. Were nothing more to be seen,
well, and It's strange bazaar would give II the
title to be rank ed among the most notable places
and the most holy point OF the Ganges, long
groves OF trees, orange, cltron, piantain, and
palm and the most singular monkey temple in
the world. On arriving at the temple the Prince
was supplied with plate OF parched peas and
number Of white aweetmeats, OF which IL was
said the monkeys had many times sgnned their
appreciation, and, thus furnished, the Prince
entered the temple. Up In the neighborina
the roads chasing Iuokless children, and on the
fronts OF tue shops, these creatures seemed to
be everywhere. Ihat they were mischievOus
was also undoubted for now and then
they would hurl stones or pieces Of wood at
paseers-by with an aim by means to be
despised, or would lean over the wall and
quietly snap Oh tue turban Of some thoughtless
pedestrian, VINO might shout, aud cali not only
tue monkey but the monkeys sister aud mother
tho approved style Of abuse here-all kinds OF
unpleasunt names but bis turban might be
considered as gone, all Efforts OF rs owner not
witnstandinc. and the best thing he could do
would he 70 buy another puRRaree as quickly as
pOssi0le. Our entry tn the temple was the sig
"a nj IA apneral aaSemblaue a tuasp
animals. They tumolod down from tue nina
rats OF the tsmDie, they came over the walks 10y
scores, they wItgelet through holes and crew
ices, rushed N at the doorways, and, In sho rt.
readily obsyed the summons as to form a body
that could, without tho slightest trouble, have
had reat plego Of fun with the Prince aud his
SUITE. fortunately, they were peaceaoly in
cllned, and as the stock OF sweetme0ts and peas
was lafge, and their hunger not great-for they
fed on ON average hfty times u day by pill
grims and worshippers were content to
take what was thrown them. and, fllins their
checks ~ full US possible, make of.