The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-04-25

Crows and Adjutant Birds That DO the
Street Cleaning Work.

Crows and Adiutnnt Birds That DO the
Street Cleaning Work.
A stranger IN Calcutta cannot fail
to quickly remark the vast number of
crows that inhabit all parts Of the city
and the tameness of the adiutant birds
"a species of stork-who fearlessly
preambulate its streets. The reason
for this is that both crows and adju-
tant birds are protected by law on ac-
count of their scavenger work
Probably in no other part of the
world do the crows appear so plump,
impudent and glossy. While their
coats shine as if they received each
morning a polish of backing. the au-
dacity is astonishing. Hitler and
thither they ramble over the whole
city strolling about the porch of the
viceroy's palace with an air as if they
divided the honors of government with
King Edwards representative, hop
ping inquisitively into places of public
worship and invading the homes Of
rich and poor, European and native,
with unruiled temerity
In many of the European houses
spaces are left between the top of the
wall and the roof or ceiling to admit
a current Of air in hot weather, and
through these spaces comes Jim Crow
in search of the dining room and a bet
ter provender than he is likely to pick
up in the gutter But leave a meal
unguarded for a moment and a good
portion of it is likely to be borne Off
through one of the ventilators.
1t is in far more dignitied manner
that the adiutant bird goes about mis-
business. With an distracted mein
he stalks solemnly along in the gut
ter, occasionally stepping up on the
sidewalk in the European quarter, as
if he observed something of interest
in the shop windows. If he gets in
your way he budges not an inch, and
for you is reserved the privilege Of
taking the curb. But, like the crow.
his best work is done in the bazaars Of
/ the native quarter, where he iemolish-
es many a germ-breeding pile which
has escaped the inspectors notice, and
! thus often prevents an outbreak Of
cholera. With snakes, too. he is not
upon friendly terms, and his long bill
no doubt often destroys a nest of CO.
bras in the suburbs.
That he is bird possessed of much
patience may be noted by his actions
round the burning CHATS. Undoubtel-
ly this virtue would be an extra
feather in his moral plumage
were it not directed toward grue-
some object. 1t being the desire of
every pious Hindu that his body after
death shall rest in the sacred Ganges
or one of its tributaries, in order that
this sentimental idea may be carried
out in conformity with the preserva-
ton of public health, the authorities
provide CHATS, or burning places for
the dead on the banks, so that the
ashes may be cast into the river.
This according to the Hindo belief. in.
sures a certain entry into Heaven
though by less speedy route than II
the body had been given to the river
with out previous disintegration. Con
sequently many bodies are struggled
into the river. and it is for these that
the adjutant bird so faithfully watch
es. For days he will wait around the
CHATS, first standing on one leg anG
then on the other, with an air so alb
stracted that he might be likened to {
Brahman ascetic wrapt in profoun,
meditation and constantly repeating TX
himself passages from the Vedas. Blu
unlike the native official, whose dut!
it is to prevent such happenings, anC
who has probably received a fee t.
cover his eyes at the proper moment
the adjutant birds eyes are wide open
and before long he will be seen sailing
T down the Hugh with his talons burie,
} in dark form just visible above tn,
: muddy waters. At this sight the re
latives Of the deceased take much con
5 ISOLATION, because they believe that tn
. wings Of the bird viii bear the soul 0
, the departed in the swiftest manner +
q heayen.-Washin Star.