The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-02


by Enslapd's Coronation Guests.
A. Sarah Kumax Grosh. in London
Express.
The rigorous caste laws of India
have introduced a peculiar difficulty
in the entertainment of the Indian
representatives now in England for
the coronation. But such is the fore
thought and careful regard for Hindu
susceptibilities shown by those who
have charge of their reception and ac-
commodation in England that, not
withstanding the magnitude of the re-
sponsibility, the Indian visitors
Princes, followers, and Sepoys alike
will be as comfortably lodged and as
scrupulously safeguarded regading
their caste observances as in their
own homes in India.
Owing to special circumstances, the
case of the Mahara jah of Jaipur has
presented exceptional difficulties; hence
a solution in his case implies a solu-
ton in that of all others. His high
ness had never left India before, did
not speak a word of English, was of
the very highest caste, and if pos
sible, ultra-scrupulous regarding all
ordinances of his faith. But so splen-
cid is the organization that every diff
Guilty has been met and solved.
His highnesS came in a new ship, in,
which beef or pork could never have
been used-for the emere~ presence of
either in the house or ship in which
he himself took food would have lost
him his caste. So, when compelled to
cross the Channel from Calais in an
old steamer, he abstained from food
or drink during the passage.
In London, the King has assigned
to him Moray Lodge, Campden Fill,
Which has been practically rebuilt for
him as an Indian palace, and in the
magnificent grounds of which separate
accommodation has been erected for
every variety of caste among his large
retinue; thus for the time being Mo-
ray Lodge is, according to every Hin
du ordinance, a part of the royal pal
ace at Jaipur.
I..,. Clean ami UncIean.
His highness is surrounded with all
the splendor and luxury of his own
court, and the members of his suite
retain their accustomed habits and
modes of life, and follow their usual
routine, as in India. To insure this
they have brought with them a COM
plete supply of every commodity that
may be needed for their own or his
highness' use.
Caste laws affect every aspect of
Hindu life in manner scarcely to be
realized by Western minds. The
question of food is perhaps typical. A
high caste and orthodox Hindu must
practically restrict himself to vegeta-
bles. The exceptions are few--fish,
milk, mutton and goat flesh. Fish is
permitted because it is deemed to be
cold-blooded and insensitive to pain;
milk because the taking of milk does
lot cause the death of the animal, nav.
is often a service to it. AS a curious
point it may be mentioned that the
cow is held in veneration in India be-
cause she gives us milk: hence she is
like foster mother. and is also the
type of the earth. the universal moth
er.
The flesh of animals is as a rule for
hidden because most animals are I'M
clean. (Beef, for the opposite reason;
the COW is sacred, not unclean.) Sheep
and goats are deemed to be clean,
hence the exception. But even their
flesh can be eaten only when the sheep
or the goat has been killed. as a sac
riflce to the goddess Kali. Hence most
peculiar conditions have to be fulfill
ed to make the sacrifice valid. First.
The sheep or the goat must be male;
the SOuueSS VIII accept no creature IN
sacrifice that is of her own sex. Sec
end. The head of the victim must be
severed at a single blow. If there he
more than one blow, or any mutilation
or hacking in the act of killing the
sacrifice becomes a sacrilege. Third.
The slayer of the victim must be OF
the priestly caste, not a mere butcher
Sacred killing.
Usually a little idol of Kali is set up,
garlanded with marigold; and a bra
zier filed with burning charcoal is
placed upon a tripod before the idol
In that case the priest drops a few
grains of incense upon the brazier with
the set form of prayer.
The head and neck of the victim are
first bathed in Ganges water-a large
supply of which has been brought by
the Maharajah of Jaipur. The execu-
ton block Is merely a post foot and
a half off the ground. and forked at
the top like a Y. Into this the head
Of the victim Is placed and bound with
a cord An assistant seizes the animal
from behInd-its hind legs In one hand
and fore legs in the other-and stretch
es out the creature In horizontal po-
sltion. Then the priest deals the blow
from the side All this done suddenly,
quickly, the time that elapses from
the placing Of the head on The block
and the actual. killing Is never more
than zen seconds, and usually only
aye. FggIA
Ia this connection Il may be men
Toned that "a f4lafa "a now nffaH at.f