The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-14
THE TOWERS OF SILENCE.

n yssN V 0se Prince Of Wales to tho Parser
Ionsbs.
In the southwestern corner of Bombay
Island the low plain swells up rather
suddenly into hill of two hundred feet
high, from the top of which the whole
city, and almost the whole island are Wis
IDLE to the north and east, and to the west
and south the wide sea. It is q spot
which, without doubt, presents the
finest view of what has been called one
OF the choicest scenes of the world, and
might we'll, therefore, have been Sc
aected for the gayest villas of the richest
inhabitants; but it is fact that, till
The prince came to India, no European,
except It may have been by stealth, had
set loot upon it. None, certainly, were
privileged to examine this strange place,
and II any came, which may well be
doubted, at most they could but cast a
furtSve glance around them, and steal
aw'.y again.
Two centuries have passed since, in
this then most desolate and savage spot,
agray tower was raised, no sign of life OF
mans habitation, but an abode of death,
and so well called the Tower of 81.
lence. As time went on four other tow.
ers were raised around the first, the
farses, to whom these towers belonged,
grew in wealth and influence, the whole
mil became theirs, and high encircling
wall with iron gates barred access to any
out those of their own nation. Up to
the Prince of Wales visit do not only
say that no stranger has visited the spot;
say more that nd one ever expected to
see it. The Parses are not a proselytiz-
ing sect; they would not accept prose-
iytes though they came to them volunta-
nly. There is veil of mystery and
mysticism over all 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 vav
IN which the curtain which has 60 long
been held up by the Parses around their
sonbs 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 lol it was done. It
may be quite true that the fire worship
ers had found that the detractors had
made use Of the mystery in which they
shrouded their funeral rites to invent
many calumnies against them, but still
90 not think that desire to set them
selves right with the world would alone
nave induced them to raise the veil. It
would never have been put aside but for
ene princes wish to have it removed and
70, If his visit should have no other 70.
suit II viii have in this brought about
0ae ei the most curious changes that Tn.
u,a has witnessed. The thing came
a'oat 50 suddenly that the secretary Of
'ne rerses found himself, 80 he told me.
Tan SANDING under the wall of the principal
lower OF silence, close to the vast Stone
sxn,.:a Sao on which the oorpses are deposited,
p'alnlng ior a model the interior econ
ns.. .aa :. 'ae structure to his royal high
,ss hs, ana group Of his suite before he
aaa time to prepare his dress or thonn,.s
lof the occasion. 1n'o
sf s;,s GU may ascend the hill of the Towers
y silence by long succession e oe+s,s Of ters