The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-11-06
CREMATION IN INDIA.
The Solemn and Affecting Cere-
mopy Performed by the
Hindooe.

To every traveller in Hindostan is fa-
miliar the terrible call of Ram, Ra N
Such Hail" which, being translated into
English. means. literally, God, God is
truth. The cry is q fearful one, cry
which once heard fingers with peculiar
rhythm in the hearers ear, for never Is
it heard from the lips of single man.
but from many. sometimes from the lips
of hundreds, and which borne with that
terrible distinctness of the well accentu-
ated many upon . still air its effect is
peculiarly awe-striking. Still more SO
when at rapid trot upon the Shout
ders of four white-robed men is seen .
white-sheeted corpse laid upon q light
bier. So tightly has been drawn the
shrouding over the dead figure that
every outline of the body is distinctly
visible; and thus at quick pace hurry
the body-bearers, followed by an inn
mense throng, to the burning CHAT,
there to burn the body of the deceased.
Since the advent of the British into
power in India the fearful rite of suffice,
which condemned to be burnt along with
her husband his widows, has been pre-
vented; and though, even at this day,
Hindostani burning is sight by no
means pleasant. it was much more fear
full when along with the burning dead
husband were burned one or more of his
late wives.
The first tine vhen that sacrifice was
clearly brought home to Englishmen
was when Job Chornock, haIf-pi1ate,
half-adventurer, saved the life of a
beautiful Bengalee widow as she was
being thrust upon the burning pyre of
her husband. Job Charnock laid the
foundation of the present capital of In
dia, Calcutta, and it was at its present
site where the gallant sailor performed
this hazardous saving feat. Charnock
had penetrated up the Hoogly in quest
of adventures, and seeing from his ves-
sci preparations for the burning of Hin
doc he watched the process with curious
excitement; but when it came to cremat-
ing living people, and above all young
woman, all the generous impulses of the
sailors heart were stirred, and calling
to his comrades he leaped ashore, and
with the aid of their knives he soon dis
persed the heathens and afterward mar
ried the woman and founded Calcutta.
There are few more affecting sights
than Hindoo cremation. There is SO
much of solemnity and so much of bar
barrie pomp attending the ceremonial,
such general gathering of clansmen,
and so much paid loud weeping and
silent agony, that it may be well said
that not TO be present at a burning is to
lose one of the most interesting enter
tainments that Hindostan can offer. No
Hindoo 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 not made by hands. The
measure is not wholly one of religion,
but more of a sanitary precaution. De-
composition sets in SO rapidly that it is
reckless to leave a body in close and
confined rooms longer than an hour at
the very most. No sooner does death
appear inevitable than the friends pre-
pare to meet it in the most philosophi-
cal manner. The dying man is borne
out into the open air, the hired mourn
ers are sent for, and sit on each side of
the Intel and wall ID . heartrending
manner. These mourners are women,
old and ugly, dressed in the conven-
tional green, red, and white dusty gar
ments, with hair disheveled. barn-yard
sweepings on their head, and all the ac-
complishments of woe imaginable.
From constantly engaging in such bust
ness their faces appear to have attained
the expression most BETTING such occa-
sions.
About the amounting of the corpse the
Hindoo is most particular. It is rubbed
all over with the essence of fuses. The
hair is oiled. the cheeks and lips are
painted a bright vermillion, and the body
swathed in white linen, manufactured
for that purpose, and 81 shroud d as
only to disclose the fAce and hands.
The bier differs according to the caste.
With the Brahmins simplicity is observ-
able. But the lower the caste, and con-
se3uently the lower the general intelli-
gence and status in society, the more
gaudily decorated the bier. For in
stance, grooms affect the liyeliest colors,
and convert their funerals into ludic-
rous farces, and are more than pleased
when their efforts meet with laughing
shouts of approval. 1t is a popularity
of this class that they are most jovial
race, and have ever a song or joke on
their lips. With other castles prefer
natural gloom seems ever upon their
minds. A groom, on the other hand,
seizes with avidity the occasion of a fu-
neral, and looks upon it as q most for
tunate circumstance-an occasion upon
which to be merry. 10 laugh dull care
away, and defy tyrant death with the
cup that more than inebriates: for
drunkenness is besetting vice with
him. though it is a drunkenness that
takes amiable form. rarely ever permit
ting him to do more harra than to 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, yellow-in fact, all eolors-of
cotton cloth. A canopy is formed over
head, also covered with various colored
cloth. The body is placed inside and
smothered with flowers, the white cham
melee being preferred. 1t has strong
-odor. and is pure white. Four of the
stoutest relatives of the deceased then
Lift the litter, and before them are rum
ners, who lay on the ground red and
white strips of cloth, so - not to permit
the carriers to tread the bare earth.