The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-15
house Of the deceased person might be, or
what his station in life. the funeral

house of the deceased person might be, or
what his station in life, the funeral
ALWAYS WENT AFooT.
Knowing that the procession was on IFS
way TO the Dakmah we determined to watch
and wait, and after about quarter ofan hour,
during which time we divided our attention
between our dinner and the scenery, the
mOurners reappeared on the road that eircled
below us and led down to the tower. We
followed them with our glasses as they
wound across the valley, until they finally
halted at the heavy iron gates that marked
the entrance TO the tower grounds and be-
yond which none but PaTsee might pass
Here they were met by several individuals
who had come out Ofa small house or bunga-
low near the tower wall on the approach of
the funeral-train. They took charge of the
body and dismissed the mOurneTs.
The big gates were closed, and the body
carried on its bier through the beautifully
arranged inclosure and up the massive stone
steps into the Dakmah. The interior of the
structure could be plainly seen from our
elevated position with the aid of our pow
erlul binocles
In the center was what appeared to be
well Of considerable circumference and about
10 feet deep. The floor, which was made Of
stone slabs, slOped toward this well, and was
divided into three rows of shallow, open
receptacles; between these were footpaths or
aisles, and down the center or principal one
came the cOrpse-bearers with their burden.
The bearers stopped at the first or upper
row of receptacles, and after removing the
white robe in which the body was wrapped,
placed the latter carefully in one of the
openings. No sooner had they done this
and retired from the Dakmah than countless
NUMBERS or BUZZARDs
that had been perching upon the walls await
ing their opportunity descended in a cloud
upon the body and render IL invisible to us.
In less than 10 minutes, as If it at a given
signal, they arose en- masse and resumed
their sentinel-like position on the tower
wall, leaving behind them a shining white
skeleton as perfectly denuded Of flesh as
though IL had passed through the cleaning
boiler Of tho anatomist.
Having witnessed this one Of the most
curious moTtuary customs Of the East, we
were anxious to know more in detail Of the
Parsee towers and the origin and the object
OF this mode Of disposing of the dead. We
Piled Renee with questions, but he would
not respond, and our ride back to the inn
was productive Of little additional informa-
tion.
On our return to Bombay applied to the
Parsee Punchayet, and informed them of my
thirst for knowledge on the subject of the
Dakmah. was told that the Secretary of
the Society, Masseramiee Byramjee, had
Just published for the first time in the Jour
nal of the AnthrOpOlOgical Society of Bonn
bay detailed plan of burial tower, together
with full and complete description.
purchased a copy OF the journal, and a
great deal of the following information
about the crOss-sectiOn of a Dakmah was
taken from this paper.
The Parsees are descendants of the an
cicnt Persians who many centuries ago
found their way 10 India. They are follow
eTs of the religion Of their fOrefathers, that
of ZorOaster. To them the elements are
sacred, and they believe that it is sinful TO
pollute the earth By buTying their dead, fire
by cremating them, or water by casting them
into the midst thereof The Dakmah was
designed in accordaneerwith this religious
formula, and is q complete solution Of the
mOrtuary problem. They are usually built
on the tops Of bills, as far removed from
human habitaiion ~ possible, in order not
to do harm TO the living. They are perfect
examples of the skill of the stonemason
and the sanitary engineer, no expense being
spared to make them Of the best material
and in the most substantial manner, that
they may last for centuries. They are usually
from 40 TO 50 feet high, and about 300 feet
in circumference.
The circular floor of the tower is paved
with large stone slabs and divided into three
rows Of shallow, open recepiacles, correspond
ing with the three moral pIecepts of the