The Southern herald., 1885-12-05

gree1s YeLoW-1 fact. AZ eolors-0f [
cotton cloth. A canopy Is formed over /
head. also covered Wi1h various e0larsa /
eleth- Ihs body IS plAesd inszis and
sm0thered with hOwers, the whitscham
melee being preferred. It has strong
od0r, and Is = purs Waite. Four q the
stOutest relatives Of the deceased then
LIT the litter, and before them are run
ners, who lay On the ground red and
White strips Of cloth. 50 Is net b permit
the carriers 10 tread The bare earth
When the funeral procession comes to
the limit Of one Ol these strips the fuu-
eral eOrtege has 10 wait til other strips
have been spread. In advance Of these
are the fighting men Of the party, who
brandish spears, sticks. and occasionally
hre on guns. besides going through an
tics symbOlical Of fighting in mid-Sir
lowering demons who are intent upon
carrying OF the BODY. In most pictur.
esque places are these burning CHATS 10
Gated.
Hard BY in some holy stream whose
blue waters contrast beautifully with
the dark and glowing foliage Of the
oyerhanging trees. and the rich green
Of the rank Jungle which fringes its
banks. The approaches Of these river
banks are generally through ravines,
deep and tortuous. caused by The action
of the overlooked river during the rainy
season. Over hot and burning sands,
which glisten in the bright sunshine
ike FURNISHED silver. and cast 3 glare
which 10 the unaccustOmed eve IS al
most binding. .trudges the funeral party.
Arriving st the CHAT little huckster-
ing has to be gone through with some
Of the woOd-dealerS, who have ready
assorted, proper sized pieces Of wood
from which to build the pyre, this being
accomplished after no little difficulty;
for HindoO always asks more than he
expects to receive, and always places
his figure high so that after the bargain
is concluded he gets actually what he
first wanted. The eldest son is closest
to the body; it is he who carries the pot
containing the fire. and it is his duty to
start into flame the straw. He Is dres-
sed in white, and upon his dress are
great patches Of red, like blood-clots.
The pyre is but afOOt or so high, resting
on a bed of straw. After the doleful
chants have been sung, and after he has
thrice marched round the pyre, he ig.
mites the fire, and few seconds after q
thin wreath of smoke ascending heav.
onward tells that the last rite has been
successfully performed. The funeral
ceremonies over, the party, including
those who are nearest Of kin, repair tC
the deceased's late dwelling, and there
inquire into the affairs Of the departeC
one, and make an inventory Of his eff
fects.
| A marriage and a funeral are affair
much to be dreaded by a wealthy Hin
doc, for on either occasion there has b
be considerable spent on feasting no
only the relatives, but a host Of depend
ants; and as without feast the soul O
the departed one is in danger of no
tasting the Joys Of the life hereafter,
funeral feast is really often the rea
source of the woe on such occasion. A
matter of course the Brahmins figur
conspicuously, for 1t is hoped tina
through there intercessiOns will th
dead man gain heavenly bliss.
The ceremonies that have Just bee
described obtain only in the upper POI
tion Of India, which may be said to in
clude every northern province. In Mad
ras matters are arranged more scientif
cally. There much Of the hideousnes
that is so revolving TO a person of del
cate nerves is hidden. There are n
fierce flames TO be seen cracking aroun
and burning the corpse, no terribly ol
fensive odors, but on the contrary, at
! high-caste funeral there is to be see
, the greatest respect paid to the deaC
: and also every possible arrangement
deprive the funeral of its ghastly efEec
The body is laid in slOping position
/ resting on heavy bed Of dry straw
/ This straw bed rests upon solid stor
J foundation imbedded in cement Whe
! the straw has been laid and besprinkle
0 three times slightly with holy water ii
4 body is laid upon it. The legs are crool
\ ed up, tailor-fashion, and the body
4 clothed in pure white Of peculiar line
n used solely for the shroudingo of the deal
q The corpse is then covered with whi
!. flowers, the only part that is visible beiT
! the face. The cheeks are painted brigh
4 red. After thesurviving son has pass,
4 around the pyre three times, mutterll
4 a mantram, with the pot in hand co
b tanning the holy fire, he lights the pyr
! The straw is speedily ablaze, and Il
i slight layer of wood is soon burning, al
q when the flames begin to touch the boz
! 1t is coveredwith thick coating of mu
II so that the corpse is actually burn
70 within a covering. 1t is thus left 1
y three days, when this coating Of mud
1. broken open, and thecollected ashes q
r thrown into the adjacent river.
d NOsooner has the mourning corteI
O. left thespot where under the mud dor
q is burning the corpse than the eldl
a son prepares himself for the last rite
d the ceremony. He disrobes entire
A. and taking up his position near the Ii
pyre, gets shaved from head to foot, I
ne razor passing over every inch Of
n body's surface. Here, as in NorthC
1e India, the funeral feaO is observed r
re idly, and the number Of people fed
" generally more than the purse of
II dead man can actually afford. :.
as Death in India is not look upon W
Is. that mysterious awe as in more nor
e. ern countries. Its presence is so u
" versal, its operation so rapid, and
n removal SO sudden, either by burning
III burial, that the bereaved have never
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