Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-03-10
OVERWHELMINGLY. 10, 1891
a LoATHSOsi PRACTICE IN
ENGI:SH INDIA

ESs 14.@Et kADEa
According TO the accounts of trav
elers there is no city on the face o
the globe in which so much activit,
reigns at the early hour of the morn
ing, as in Calcutta. Even the olasse
who do not live by the sweat of thei
brows are up at daybreak and tax,
the air, some on horseback, some it
carriages, but all alike bent on enjoy
ing the early morning breeze. Ii
following the course Of the rlvei
Ganges for about a mile and half
it happens occasionally that a strange
smell will affect the olfactory organ,
IN very unpleasant manner. A
thick cloud of smoke arises from be
hind very repulsive-looking wall
poisoning the air around, and what is
more singular, number Of birds Of
prey are perched along the top of the
wall. What is the enigma of the
scene? That is the spot where the
Hindus burn their dead, or rather
broil them, for no sooner is the body
slightly blackened by the flames than
1t is removed FROM the fire aud taken
away to be cast into the sacred wat
ers of the Hooghly. The birds along
the shore await this moment to dc
their work, so that sometimes the rel
atives of the deceased can actually
stand by and see with what limbs
these ravenous creatures begin to dis
embarrass the dead of their carnal
envelope. Among the various kinds
of birds it is decidedly the stork that
is the most skillful in dissecting the
dead bodies. This excellent anato-
mist in many respects resembles the
European species, but it is stronger
and taller, being four feet in height
and having a bill of about a foot in
length. The substances taken up by
this enormous bill arc allowed to fall
into tho pouch in front, and it is only
after undergoing preliminary pro
cess of softening there that it is final
ly swallowed and disposed of in the
interior stomach. Thanks to these
peculiarities, the bird becomes thus
privileged and sacred and can walk
proudly in tho streets, in the midst
even of crowds, without any one dis
it. There is indeed a fine of
fifty rupees against any one who
should do them an injury; to kill one
would be a crime. The city of Cal
cutta cannot indeed be too grateful
to these birds. 1t is they that pick
up IN the midst of refuse the remains
Of animals, birds and fish, and but for
their presence, considering the idle.
ness and indifference of the inhabi-
tants, they would run the risk of en-.
the streets and fatally
the atmosphere. Count
andrassy, an Hungarian politician,
who has given this striking account
when travelling in English India, says
hat without exaggerati,. from FIVE
o six thousand of these two legged
cavengers were seen in and around
Calcutta.
1t must not be imagined that this
cremation has any relation to the GER
'mony formerly practiced in Rome
IN similar occasions. With the Ro-
mans 1t was pious custom. Chill
iren, brothers, relatives, friends, ser
'ants, in fact all those who were at
ached to the deceased by ties of re.
ationship or affection, gathered round
he body, mourning aud in tears. The /
shes were carefully collected and =,
deposited in an urn. But in India {
o one seems to trouble himself with t
be dead, save those who are employ |
d in the act of cremation itself, for /
far as the Count says he could OBJ 1
erve, it is seldom that a relative of
le deceased is seen there. Besides,
owhere in India are bodies respect. h
d. They seek to get rid of them as
uickly as possible. They are indeed v
in SO great hurry that y
icy are often deposited on the banks S