Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-05-21

Ihe borders OF Aalabur Hill ius, fa,,
upon the outskirts OF Bombay on one side
ana are tapped by the lazy ripples OF the
indian Ocean on the other. The climb I'D
from The esplanade Is picturesque to de-
gree, ana the well-kep; lawns, the groups
OF statuary, the broad cool verandas in
closed with Eene,ians peep out at Que
from unexpected perches on the side of the
shil, with swiftness of change suggestive
OF the tricks of the irrepress,ble Fakir.
But having them all below us We At las,
reached the vicinity of the towers of
silence. From the midst of q grove OF
pains rise two circular towers, near which
stands large building looking no. unlike
some pubic institution in any well-to-do
city OF America, but which is In truth one
OF the temples which seem So pecessary in
every Indian landscape. The towers Of
silence, what does not the fancy picture
when that name is heard for the first t.me.
a religious retreat, where one wearied with
the din and turmoil Of the city below may
enter and find peace and rest Such q re-
treat as Ialne must have reached in the
Fyrenees when he felt that in such a spot
and with such influences the Imitation
must have been written Or perhaps it is
de a5ned as place Of punishment. and
persons caught In crime are brought here
TO wear out in silence their term of sentence,
which will last till life dickers feeb!y and
hope dies Away runs imagination, but a
laxative 'wallah or, literally speaking,
fellow, who is our guide, soon brings back
wandering fancy by the appalling announce.
ment that the towers are in truth the Parsee
cemetery or mortuary. =
Directly Parsee dies he is brought to
the temple, and then after the other rites
are performed the body is disrobed, anon.
ted With sacred oils; after that it is taker
| TO the towers, which are about 80 feet ir
/ diameter and entirely open at the top: anc
then placed on AL iron grating for the
vultures 20 come and devour the flesh. Ir
every direction one can see the majesii.
palms bending low with their burdens OF
vulturcs and kites waiting for new prey
the air rescunds with their hungry cawlng
4 While II Is also laden with the sickenin,
Nodor Of decaying flesh. While a body i,
being placed in position the edge of thu
tower Is filled with cawing, chatterins
spectators hungry to make the first plunge
upon the victim. With one accord the,
dash down out OF sight. and one knows b,
the change from tumult to quiet that tn,
Palsee interment is taking place. Tha
which but short time ago was q human
being with hopes and fears and aspiration
such as still animate US who gaze trans
fixed with horror, is being torn shred b.
shred and carried into the all, to be droppe,
and picked up and quarreled over, or els
to be consumed with genuine satisfaction
NO sooner does sated bird fly on laz
wing to some far-of tree top to sleep ol
the effects OF his gluttony than fresh on
arrives upon the scene TO carry on th
hldeous work. Others swoop down upo
us, the living, and brush our very face
with their nolsome wings. Beside us stan
, some Parsees, who watch the circling bird
: with loving interest, and one English-speak
ing guide tells us that they frequently stan
, and watch the N till they know their dea
, to have been consumed. AS soon as Il
birds have cleaned all the flesh from Ii
bones, they are dropped into we'll at th
bottom OF the towers, where they al
j covered with quick lime and consumed
, The tower is thea flooded and deoCforizet
q and SO, it is claimed, their is no taint in II
8 air, but any one having the sense of SIZE
r unblunted feels that that boast is n
founded upon truth.
Night which in India trcads upon Il
0 heels OF cay too closely for one to ev
e taste twilight drove US down the hill al
back into the tkronged streets OF the ci,
before we had watched as long as v
wished, but We had seen enough to tu
with q sickening soul from the rcIigit
which makes this awful custom nece ssii
We had stood beside the Ganges al
watched the Hlndoos sprlnkling the as b
. Of their lately cremated dead upon Its sacr'
;, bosom The Grooming tone, the quiet hot
- the intense earnestncss, had melted 0
!, cold Western hearts, and We had we
from sympathy. The Hindoo and I
:, Parsee had each shown US how super
- their customs were to those practiced
Christian dogs and we had by silence
:, least given consent 10 .heir form Of lnte
mcnt, but We came back to our own bell
IN the grave and the worm with renew
devotion, for We remember that it was Z
= from the sacred Losom Of the Jangt
neither was i, from the birds o. the air, IL
: We received our Savior, but, i, was fro
the grave tha. he came forth our ris
Lord