Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-10-05
TOWERS OF SILENCE.
xhs Fsmsa. P.rs~e BariAi sreand In tins
cftg 81 nasahay.

xhs Fsmsa. l.srs~e BariAi Greund In ths
cuy ef fsaabay.
How many p~ople. ! wonder. who
have visited the fair city OF Bombay
have thought OF inspecting the famous
Parsee burial grounds' writes the cele
brated novelist NJ. petrocokino. Few
indeed have done so II report be cor,
rect but those few, am sure. have
been amply repaid by the sight Of thesa
wonderful and swe-Inspiring towers
In no cemetery. IN no burning gEaut,
have ! ever felt the sensation expert
enced on visiting this strange place.
Words inil 70 express the awe and
dread that seized me a. | stood In the
lovely grounds amid the waving palms
and sweet-scented tropical plants out Of
which arise, bold aud defiant. the white.
circular walls OF the Towers OF Silence.
some OF which date back more than q
century ago.
in few words however. ! will try
TO describe my visit 10 this burial
ground. iarriyed In Bombay with my
friend Lord fenderden. Being inform.
ed that pass Was necessary TO allow
strangers TO visit these memorable tow
ers. at once applied for pass. aud
after a little delay received a card en-
titling US to visit the grounds after four
p m From what we gathered. the fu-
neral rites were performed between the
hours Of aen aud four p. m. during
which time no stranger Ii allowed In
the grounds After n pretty and some.
what long drive our carriage drew uE
before large iron gateway and de.
scending we entered the grounds. which
are prettily and artistically arranged on
steep slope. From the gateway moth.
Ing Is visible 10 lead any one TO suppose
otherwise than that the place was b
weii-kept. protty garden. but follow.
ing the pathway n, several small
flights OF stone steps you find yourself
on an eminence quite close to the white.
walled towers on, which are pcrched
dozens Of baid-hcaded vuitures await
ing their proy.
AT the top OF the steps you are met
by an aged Parsee. the keeper of the
place, who acts rs your guide and
points. out the chief objects OF interest.
First OF all you are taken 70 spot
where you enter yol.e uame In the visit.
ors book aud arc shown list of all
the personages OF -oyal and noble
blood who have visited the spot Then
you are shown little model OF ths
Towers Of Silence. as OF course you are
not allowed 10 approach the real tower,
nearer than adistance OF thirty or forty
feet ,r.v
''From the model you SEQ that tbs
Interior formation Of ths towers Il
most curious Running around this
whole length OF the we'll Is larg,
iron grid. which extends with gentls
slope lilIit nearly meets In center o
the towers This grid il divided intt
three parts or layers The largest
next 10 the wall OF the towers. Is fol
the reception OF mems bodies. the mex
layer. Of smaller circumference 10 tina
for the women's bodies; the next layer
next 70 the center of the tower OF stll
smaller clrcumference. Ia for the bodie
OF children. In the center Is a large
deep well OF water. mixed with chemie
ais, to kill any inpurity that ma.
arise from the incessant flow OF blood
and for the destruction OF osseous mai
ter
There h narrow pathway ON th
grids leading 10 each layer TO allow tn
carriers to place the bodies OF the deal
10 their last, resting place Once tn
body islaid down the thousand OF yul
lures which are gathered round abou
each OF the towers or. 10. the. trees Q
she ground. swoop on their prey. Il
less than Ave minutes the corps Il he
reft OF every particle OF flesh. and onl
the bare skeleton remains The yul
lures again relapse into rapose. stand
Ing on the tower walls basying In tn
sunlight or seeking cool and shade Il
the deep foliage OF the trees. Not
sound breaks the silence. Your ow
voices, hushed. as It were. out Of re
sI,ect for the dead. alone and audible
aud the palm trees creaking in tn
breeze is all that breaks the sllenc
and peace. Slowly we retrace on
steps TO the spot where We first met tn
guide; here he presents us with nose
gay OF flowers gathered from N
grounds, and With a low saiaam leave
NJ 70 descend the steps alone. As "
drive OF we look back and catch
glimpse OF the white walls; hugh yul
ture rises slowly with few flaps of hi
wings sails maiestlcly from one towe
70 another A shudder passes over u
as We turn our heads toward the city q
Bombay. wich Is bathed In golden sun
\ set'' - ~
Birds and Telegraph Wires.
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