Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-10-06

sound was heard in the languid, breath
less air. The hot tropical sun beat
heavily down on the bare white walls,
and everywhere stiffness and silence
reigned supreme. / could not help but
notice the sharp contrast between the
beautiful beds Of flowers in front of the
other buildings and the wild growth
around the Towers"
''How do the Parsees bury their dead'
"Well, l will tell you the first part t
the ceremony, as my companion e.<-
planned it to me- The second part |
will tell you ms saw it.
when you reach the top of the Tow
err you VIII find that the entire circular
surface is divided into three smaller
circles, and between each circle is mar
row pathway. The circles, again, are
divided into a great number of small
shallow spaces, or receptacles, as m!
friend called them, also separated by
narrow pathways for the bearers of the
BODY to pass. The top of the Tower is
surrounded by sort of parapet which
h!deS the surface from outside view.
Now comes the strange part of the Far.
see burial custom. 1t was the teaching
of our great prophet and master, said
my companion, that the dead should
not deflc the earth. Accordingly, no
dead Farsee is laid in the earth, but his
body is expo cd to all the fowls of the
air, to more qui ky return to the dust
and the elements from which it came.
Here in the centre of our Flower" you
see Il deep well, down which we put to-
gether the dry bones of all the dead
men, women, and children, rich and
poor, great and small. For the dead
there can only be equality
1--WE next went to what is known as
the House of lrayer II low stone,
srched building with colonnadcs all
around. This is the house where the
friends of the deceased remain while the
body is placed on the Tower 1t is
here that the sacred fire burns day and
night, year IN and year out, always
watched by Il faithful priest whose duty
it is to feed tho flames with precious
woods. The air in this House of lrayer
is always rcdolcnt with the pungcntl
odor of sandal wood The corn. G. bear
crS live separate from the outer resi-
dcncc, and after each funeral they go to
the bathing house, change their gar
mcnts, and purify Themselves from the
dehlcmcnt of having touched the dead
just as we were on the point of taking
our leave, | saw 4 small procession OF
white robed figures marching over the
narrow stone bridge to one of the tow
crs, and disappear i'll the small square
opening in the wall. Ny companion
must have seen the procession; for
noticed that his whole dcmcanor per
ccptibly changed, as with bowed head
he told me that n bura would take
place only ut sunrise or at sunset. Sud
denly the place seemed to be astir with
life and motion. The tall palms shook as
under sudden gust of wind. The black
bodies on the trees, hitherto motionless,
raised their heads, spread out ther
wings and with whir md Il viii
swoopcd down like avenging furics on
the top of the Tower Although
could not see the dreadful sight knew
that these birds of prey were doing the,r
ghoul sh work of picking the flesh from
OIL the skeleton. Instinctivcly put up
my hands as if to shut out the sight
and taking hold of my friends arm We
quietly rctraccd our steps to the iron
gate through which we had made an
entrance.
"Sincc that memorable visit to the
Towers of Silence | have often asked
myself whether my first feeling of partial
dread and disgust was not one OF scnti-
mcnt rather than one OF reason. | am
frank to say that the impression of rcpul-
on has almost worn OH, when | rcmem
or that the birds only did quickly what
the worms do so slowly; when rcmem
Der that everything is done with such
care, tenderness and reverence by the
c'can, white-robed priests, amid the
glorious garden of roses, when remcm-
Der the saying of my Parsce companion,
that for the dead there can only be
equal ty.'