The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-06-05


algaroba and tamarind and all the south
sea exotics Rough cheek of pineapple
against smooth cheek of melon. The
tropics burning incense of aromatics to
the high heavens.
In another vein the doctor writes of
the degraded Samoans, the murderous
Maoris and the general racial character
istics of the other natives of those odd,
picturesque islands.
Further along we find him weaving
inimitable word garlands about his
memories of Australia and the beautiful
harbor Of Sydney. But he finds that
tropic land too prolific of snakes and in
a species of half abhorrent humor dis
courses of the 98 kinds Of reptiles Aus
tralasia affords.
An intensely interesting and instruct
i've chapter is the one devoted to de-
scription of the authors visit to Bud
dhist college in Ceylon. A portion of
this may be quoted:
"Among the first visited was a Bud
dhist college About 100 men studying
to become priests gathered around the
teachers. Stepping into the building
where the high priest was instructing
the class, we took on an apologetic air
and told him we were Americans and
would like to see his mode of teaching
if he had no objections. Whereupon he
began, doubled up as he was on a lounge,
with his right hand playing with his
toes. In his left hand he held package
of bamboo leaves on which were writ
ten the words of the lesson, each stu
dent holding similar package Of bam-
boo leaves. The high priest first read,
and then one of his students read. A
group of as finely formed young men as
ever saw surrounded the venerable in
structor. The last word Of each sentence
was intoned Not able to understand
what was said, there is look of Ian
guage and intonation that is the same
among all races. That the Buddhists
have full faith in their religion no one
can doubt-that is, in their opinion,
the way to heaven. What Mohammed is
to the Mohammedan and what Christ
is to the Christian, Buddha is to the
Buddhist.
Icannot pass from this portion Of the
work without quoting characteristic,
ejaculatory outburst concerning the
beautiful trees that embower this To-
cality so densely:
"Oh, the trees of Ceylon May you
live to behold the morning climbing
down through their branches, or the
evening tipping their leaves with am
ber and gold! forgive the Buddhists for
the worship of trees until they know Of
the God who made the trees"
In India the author found rich ma
terial The horrors and grim grandeur
of pagan superstition struck him more
forcibly than anything else. The ghast-
ly burial rites of this peculiar people
riveted his attention in most unpleas-
ant way, held him by spell of horror.
His account of a Hindoo funeral, couched
in crisp, Photographic English, is very
gem Of simplicity and strength. Here is
part of it:
''We got into boat and were rowed
down the river Ganges until we came
opposite to where five dead bodies lay,
four of them women wrapped in red
garments and man wrapped in white.
Our boat fastened, we waited and watch
ed. High piles of wood were on the
bank, and this wood is carefully weigh
ed on large scales, according as the
friends of the deceased can afford to pay
for it. In many cases only few sticks
can be afforded, and the dead body is
burned only a little and then thrown
into the Ganges. But where the relatives
of the deceased are we'll to do an abun-
dance of wood in pieces or feet long
is purchased. Two or three layers of
sticks are then put on the ground to re-
ceive the dead form. Small pieces of
sandalwood are inserted to produce fra
GRANGE. The deceased Is lifted from the
resting place and put upon this wood.
Then the cover is removed from the face
of the corpse and it is bathed with the
water of the Ganges. Then several more
layers of wood are put upon the body,
and other sticks are placed on both sides
of it, but the head and feet are left ex-
posed. Then quantity of grease suf-
ficient to make everything inflammable
is put ON the wood and into the mouth
of the dead. Then one of the richest
men in Benares, his fortune made in this
way, furnishes the fire, and after the
priest has mumbled few words the
eldest son walks three times around the
sacred pile and then applies the torch,
and. the fire blazes up, and in a short
time the body has become the ashes
which the relatives throw into the
Ganges."
But the temptation to further expa-
tiate upon the varied delights afforded
the reader of this wonderful and valu-