Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-17

March ofthe Funeral observation-disclosures
Burnt While Sm0the red with Flow

Such Hail. which. being translated into
English means literally: "God. God Is
truthv The try is q fearful one-a cry
which, once heard, fingers with peculiar
rhythm in the hearers ear, for never Is Y
heard from the lips Of a single man, 9u'
from many, sometimes from the lips oi
hundreds. and when borne with thar ter
rible distinctupss Of the Wcli-accen 'uaieu
many upon sull air it- effect Is pvcd-
larry awe-striAug. ~li more so Wuen
at rand trot upon tie shoulders OF tour
white.robed men is seen Whlle-sheeled
corpse laid upon lglt bier 80 uEnuE
has been drawn the shroudiug over the
dead figure that every outline or the
bodv Is distinctly visible; and thus nj a
quick pace hurry the b0dy-bearers, fol-
lowed by an immense thrO'g TO the
burning CHAT, there TO burn the body OF
the deceased
Since tie advent Of the British into
mower in India the fearful rite Of suffice,
which condemned Co De burnt along with
her husband his widows, has been pre-
vented; and though, even al this day,
Hind0sLani burning is sight by no
means pleasant, II was much more rear
ful when, along with the burning dead
husband. were burned one or more OF BIS
late wives.
The first time when that sacridce was
clearly brought home 20 Englishmen was
when job Charnock, half-pirate-half-ad-
Veuturer, saved the lie OF beautiful
Bengalee widow as she was being thrust
upon the burning pyre Of Der husband.
Job Cbarnock LAID the foundation of the
present capital 0f India. Calcutta, and
il was at its presents.te where the gallant
sailor performed this hazardous saving
feat. Charn5ck bad penetrated up the
HOOgly ia quest Of adventures, and seeing
from bis vessel preparation for the burn
Ing Of a Hiud0O DE watched the process
with curious excitement; but when u
came 20 crematng living people, and
above all Young W0maD,all the generous
impulses Of the sailors heart were stir
red, and calling % his comrades he !eaped
ashore. and with the aid u their knives
be soon dispersed the heathens, and alter
ward married the woman and founded
Calcutta.
There are few more affecting sights
than a HindoO cremation. There IS so
much Of solemnity and 50 much CT bar
barrie pomp attending the ceremonial,
such general gathering OF clansmen. and
so much paid loud weeping and silent
agony. that it may be wen said that not
10 be present at a burning is to lose one of
The most interesting entertainments that
Hind0stan can offer No HiudOO is ever
permitted TO die within four walls. out
In the open air must the last gasp be
breathed, and the last look Of the dying
man must be upon that which Is net made
by hands. The measure is not wholly
one OF religion. but more Of sanitary
precautiOn. Dec, IMPOSITION sets in 20
rapidly that in is reckless 10 leave a body
in close and confined rooms longer than
an hour at the very most. No sooner
does death appear inevitably than the
friends prepare to meet il in the most
philosophical manner. The dying man Is
borne out into the open air, tue hired
m0urners are sent for, and sit % each
side of the Intel and wall in a heartrend-
ing manner. These mOurners are women,
old and ugly, dressed in the conventional
green. red, and white dusty garments,
with hair disbeyelled, barn-yard sweep
ings on their head. and al the accom- llsh-
ments OF woe imaginable. From con-
stantly engaging in such business
taeir faces appear 10 have attained
the expression most BETTING such oc-
casiOns.
About the amounting Of the corpse the
HiBd0o Is most particular. II is rubbed
all over with the essence Of roses. The
hair is oiled, the cheeks and lips are
painted a bright YermlliOn, and the body
ewatned Ia white linen. manufactured for
llhA IAl Atb-ts huO 70 HuINAutu db only 10
disclose the face and hands. The bier
differs according to the caste. With the
Brahmins simplicity is observable. But
the lower the caste, and consequently the
lower the general intelligence and status
IN society, the more gaudily decorated
the bier. For instance. the grooms AFFECT
the iiYelest cOlors. and convert their fun
erals into ludicrous farces, and are more
than pleased when their efforts meet with
laughing shouts OF approval. 1t is a
regularity OF this class that they are
most joYial race, and have ever a song or
Joke on their lips. With other castles
their minds. A groom, on the other hand,
seizes with aviditY the occasion Of a
funeral, and looks upon IL as a most for
tunate circumstance-an occasion upon
which 70 be merry, 20 laugh dull care
away, and defy tyrant death with the cup
that more than inebriates; for drunken
ness Is a besetting vice with him, though
It Is n drunkenness that takes amiable
form, rarely ever permitting HIM to do
more harm than 20 bite OF the nose Of one
OF his refractory wives.
A light mating forms the bed OF the
pyre. which is attached to bamboo poles,
covered with strips of red. white, blue.
green. yeliOw-in fact. an colOrs--Of cot
ion cloth. A canopy is formed overhead,
also covered with various cOlOred cloth.
The body Is placed inside and smOthered
with flowers. the white chammalee being
preferred. IL has a strong 0dOr, and is a
pure white. Four Of the stoutest rea-
tive OF the deceased then lit the litter,
and before them are runners, who lay on
the ground red and white strips OF cloth,
80 as not TO permit the carriers 70 tread
the bare earth. When the funeral process
sion comes 70 the limit Of one Of these
strips the funeral cOrtego his 20 wait till
other strips have been spread. In advance
OF these are the fighting men
spars. sticks, and occasionally
nre of guns, besides going through antics
sYmbollcal of fighting In mid-air lowering
demons who are intent upon carrying of
the body. In most picturesque places
are these burning chats located.
Hard by is some holy stream, whose
blue waters contract beautifully with the
dark and glowing foliage OF the Oyerhanr-
ing trees and the rich green OF the rank
jungle which iringes ms banks. The ap.
proaches 10 these river banks are Qener-
ally through ravines, deep aud tortuous.
caused by the action OF the oyernooded
river during the rainy season over hot
ard burning sands, wifi gli,ten IN the
bright sunshine like Furnished silver.
and cast q glare which 20 the unaccus-
toned eye is almost binding, trudges the
funeral party.
Arriving az the CHAT. little huckster-
ing has 90 Doe zone through with some OF
tie wood dealers, who have reudv.assort.
ed proper-sized pieces of wood from which
- build the pyre. this being accomplished
after no liltle difficulty, for ulndoo al.
WAYS nake more than hn oEuncfa 10 ro