Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-04-10

one can pass freely In front OF the cages
without scowl, but let q native appear and
the animal IL alive with hatred.
The Indian Museum, where we spent part
of Sunday afternoon. is an immense build.
ing we'll filled with curios and fine work of
the natives, but it also contains all the ami
mails of India. There is one crocodile 10
feet long and snake of the python species
OF the same length. Most Of the diamonds
are from Bundelkund, South India, and SAM
balpier, also models of The most celebrated
diamonds of the world, the Regent. the Koh.
i. Nur and the Great Nizam. The natives
,hrong the museum and add much to the
surroundings in their picturesque attire and
many jewels, the bare feet of the women
with their toes full of rings and ankles with
many large bands of silver or colored glass,
their ears each pierced in half dozen places
with each different style Of ring in, then
the nose ring, large hoop worn by the un.
married in the left nostril, which Is replaced
after marriage with much heavier one and
does not look unlike silver acorn growing
out Of the nose. Their arms are bare almost
to the shoulders but many broad bracelets
are worn both above and below the elbow,
and strange to say all this jewelry is worn at
all times, whether the woman is washing by
stream or carrying mortar or bricks on her
head TO the top of building IN the course Of
construction. The men wear few rings
and sometimes small ear rings and are not
so brightly clad as the women with their
short red bodice we'll ornamented with pieces
OF looking glass and embroidery, and their
frequent yellow muslin SASH Between the
very short bodice and the sash the body Is
nude; lower q short skirt Of very brigh, col.
ors covers the limbs to within or 8 inches
OF the ground giving ample opportunity for
display Of the jewelry on their ankles.
The first form of Hindu religion was bed
ism, the worship of nature in songs and
prayers. collectively called beda. The gods
were Iudra (rain). Agni (dre) and surya (sun)
Then followed Brahmanism, from birth ITO
expand) the idea of a universal spirit or c.
sence which existed in everything.
Caste was originally distinction between
prlest, soldier, artisan and mental, but 10 time
each trade came to have separate caste until
the number now is beyond the ordinary mind
to contemplate.
The Hindu theory of the transmigration
of aOus arises from the belief that evil pro-
ceeds from antecedent evil and the penalty
must be suffered In succeeding existences
and the soul of man is liable 10 pass through
many different species of animal, but the
Hindu's object is to get rid of the series Of
perpetual trausmigrations that he may live
in the same heaven with the personal god.
Krishna, Ganesh or Kali His religion a.
mounts TO little more than the fear of demons,
of the loss of caste and Of the priests.
The great object Of the Hindu is to have
son that the said son may attend the disposal
of his body after death. If he has no son,
brother or nephew will answer Only so
near relative can touch the body Of the
dead; he must wash him and do all that is
necessary, at the same time he cannot eat
with any of his family or with any of his
caste for he Is deflled, consequently must be
Stunned for fourteen days after cremation;
then to be restored to his caste he must give
big meal. the money usually supplied by
his employer, and part of the wages kept
for possibly year or two until the amount
borrowed is paid.
The cremation is done in the open air and
the burning CHATS in Calcutta are open to the
public; the least amount of wood used is a
RUPEES worth, and it is hardly enough but 1t
matters little as they usually shovel what is
left into the river with the ashes. The body
is brought TO the CHAT on bamboo stretcher
swathed 1t white and covered with red
blanket. preceded by the nearest male relative
walking alone. A number of friends follow
occasionally, giving vent to their grief in
song. Heavy pieces of wood are placed on
the ground, the blanket is removed and the
body is placed on the wood; then more wood
is piled on top and around it the chief mourn
er buys the sacred fire from the priest and
proceeds to light the wood at the foot Of the
body. Soon the flames creep up and the
whole mass is alight and you hear the siz-
cling of the liquids of the body as they ooze
out of an arm or leg which has been forced
out between the wood. 1t usually requires
three hours to burn q body in this way.
When all has been reduced to ashes 1t is
shoveled into the river. The poor are busy
sitting the ashes for the expected small lump
Of gold formed from the ring put between
the dead body's teeth as An Offering In the
world to come.
The bodies of children under eight years
of age are not cremated but placed in white
sacks with a weight and thrown into tho
river.
HENRY G. CROFT.