The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-03-25
A STORY OF THE ORIENT.

III AOaGkAB AODS
Slow sweeps he through the column'd
aisle;
With dread beheld, with gloom behold
ing
The rites that sanctify the pile"
A marble pagoda. jeweled by the
rays Of the noon half extinguished,
stood on the picturesque banks OF
the Ganges, in far of Hindoosten.
It's lofty dome shone like burnish-
ed silver. but the arched vestibule
was hecked with fantastic shadows
by the waving pIumes Of tall palm
trees, that like giant guards. sur
round the unhallowed temple died.
icated to the worship of Brahma'
supreme deity of India. Balmy
breezes, languorous with the subtle
odor Of myriads Of gaudy tropic
flowers, sighed through the banyan
groves, while a sleepy bulbul warbled
a p~laintive melody.
Within the edifice, several priests
kneIt at the alter mumbling prayers,
to a hideous image of Brahma, star
ing from its high pedestal, while
others chanted a dismal chorus, with
mystic gestures aud absurd ~incanta-
lions.
A chandelier, ~glittering with wax.
en- tapers. gilded the frescoed ceiling
lighting a heap Of resinous faggots
ready for the torch. This was in
tended as the funeral pyre of Gull
mare. the Young and lovely widow
of a wealthy nobleman, who at sun
rise was doomed to immediate her
writhing form, tied to the embalmed
corpse Of her husband, as a propitia-
ton to insensate gods.
Gross legged on a luxurious cush
ion, sat the aged high priest, clad il
the gorgeous vestments OF his office
seeming an ancient-wizard, endowed
with occnlt lore and supernatural
gift OF prescience. In his withered
hand he grasped a roll Of parchment
covered with S%anscrit hieroglyphics
a language believed by the Hindoo'
to be hundreds OF thousands years
old, containing q revelation from
Brahma himself. which none but thu
priests were wise enough to trans
late.
Younger members of the order
lowered near, listening with obsequi
Gus attention, and minds fettered by
the grossest superstition, while tn,
antiquated seer deciphered the man
dates OF the gods, unalterable as de
crees stamped on the scroll of fate
Tomorrow was the cruel festiva
of Juggernaut. and the bliss await
ing in some mythic Elysium, yolun
tary victims at his carnival, was de-
picted with fascinating eloquence.
Female infants must be thrown
into the Gauges, as food for sacree
crocodiles, the tender flesh Of bah.
boys, mangled by the sharpenet
teeth Of Vishnu Bleeding heart
OF bonnie maidens would be crushed
under the ponderous chariot wheel
Of Brahma; infatuated wretches fast
eued by iron hooks pierced through
their ~quivering bodies to his trium-
phal car. Roodha, terrific with hi
venomous snakes. thirty two hells
and one hundred and twenty cavern.
of eternal vengeance, must be ap'
peased by q sanguinary banquet 0
prisoners taken in war. But a hol-
ocanst was to be the browning ex'
piation Of the gala,day, and the aw
full ceremony conducted with orient
al magniicience and ostentation, tt
CRAFTY a savage love of display
So unusual pomp, fragrant incense
and enchanting music should usher
the released spirit Of Gul1are int
Paradise, as a tribute due her ex,
allied rank. lavish riches and peer
less beauty.
"The will Of Brahma be DONE
burst from the lips of heartless syc
ophapts, only one showing the
slightest emotion of pity. Having
recently entered the fame. he took
10 part 10 the pagan rites, but lean
ed with naughty grace against q
luted pillar, looking like an aveng,
ing Nemesis, disguised IN the superb
habiliments OF priesthood. Melan.
choly eyes, Of midnight darkness
flashed with scorn, and his stalwart