The Portland daily press., 1881-05-18
The Towers of Silence.
How the Parsees Of India Dispose of Their
Dead.

bombay, India, Cor. Springfield Republican
What Beacon hill is to Boston, Murray hill
TO New York, Mob hill to San Francisco. NAL
aoar hill is to Bombay for the aristocratic sum-
init IS closely dotted with the palaces and
bungalows of native princes and afluent An
glo-lnGians; but the borders of Malabar hill
fall just upon the outskirts of the native city
on one side and are Tapped by the lazy ripples
OF the Indian ocean on the other. The climb Nm
from the esplanade is picturesque to degree
and the well-kept lawns, the groups of statua-
~, the broad, cool verandaS enclosed with
Venitians peep out at one from unexpected
perches on the side of the HILL with a swift
ness OF change suggestive of the tricks of the
irrepressible Fakir. But having them all be-
low us we at last reached the vicinity of .stbe
towers of silence"
From the midst of grove of palms rise two
circular towers, near which stands large
building looking not unlike some public insti-
tuition in any well-to-do city of America. but
which is In truth one of the temples which,
is seem SO necessary in every Indian landscape.
The towers of silence,"-what does not the
fancy picture when that name is heard for the
first time. Away runs imagination. but a
laxative 'wallah," or, literally speaking, fell
low, VINO Is our guide, soon brings back wan
dering fancy by the appalling announcement.
that the towers are in truth the Parsee ceme-
terry or mortuary.
Directly Parsee dies he is brought to the
temple, and then after the other rites are per-
formed, the body is disrobed, annointed with
sacred oils; after that it is taken to the towers
which are about 30 feet in diameter and en-
tlrely open at the top, and then placed upon
an iron grating for the vultures to come and
devour the flesh. In every direction one can
see the majestic palms bending low with their
burdens OF vultures and kites waiting for new
prey; the air resounds with their hungry cav
ing, while it is also laden with the sickening
odor OF decaying flesh. While body is being
placed in position the edge of the tower is
hiled with cawing. chattering spectators, hun
CRY TO make the first plunge upon the victim
With one accord they dash down out of sight.
and one knows from the change from tumult
to quiet that the Parsee interment is taking
place. That which but short time ago was
human being, with hopes and fears and aspira-
lions such as still animate us who gaze trans
hxed with horror, is being torn shred by shred
and carried into the air, to be dropped and
picked up and quarreled over, or else to be
consumed with genuine satisfaction. No soon
er does stated bird fly on lazy wing to some
far-oH tree top to sleep off the effects of his
gluttony than fresh ore arrives upon the
scene to carry on the hideous work. Others
swoop down upon us, the living, and brush our
very faces with their noisome wings. Beside
us stands some Parsees, who watching the
clrcllng birds with loving interest, and one
English-speaking guide tells US that they fire.
quently stand and watch them till thew know
their dead to have been consumed AS soon
as the birds have cleaned all the flesh
from the bones, they are dropped into a we'll
at the bottom of the towers, where they are
covered with quick lime and consumed The
lower Is then Hooded and deodorized.