Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-05-22
Letter from the Antipodes.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
IN THE FAR EAST.

1elnplcb III RTchb uunDcTS are Dullt on the
banks of the Ganges many having hundreds
of steps leading down to the river. The
most noted are the Golden Temple dedicated
Bisheshwar, the poison god, Temple Of Bish
eshwar which contains in the quadrangle
nearby, the famous Imam Kup,-"Well of
knowledge" Temple of Annapurna, god
dess whose name is compound of anna
food" and purna "who is filed" She Is sup
posed to have express orders from Bisaesh-
war to feed the people Of Benares.
An early morning ride brought us to the
banks of the Ganges, to take boat and be
rowed along the Chats The ASH Chat is
one of the five celebrated places Of pilgrim
age il, Benares the steps are in bad condi-
ton but are most sacred, consequently filled
with pilgrims on their way in to the river or
just coming out. 1t WAS most interesting to
recline on the deck OF the large rowboat con-
structed for this purpose and watch the faith
full enter the water they murmur their pray
ers and enter in joy which spreads over their
faces and the look of infinite enjoyment that
passes over them as they take up the hands
full Of precious water and allow il to trckle
over their head and face. After bathing they
wipe themselves dry, put on clean clothes if
they have them they are then anointed by
priest and some characters In color put on
their foreheads; they tit flat on RATS which
extend some little distance out, in peaceful
enjoyment, frequently their lips moving in
prayer.
The burning Chats are close by and as the
bodies are nearly always being burned one
has no trouble IN getting good view. All
Hindus over eight years old are burned chill
dren under that age are placed in bags with
a weight and showed in the river. The burn
ing is very primitive, simply few sticks of
wood on the ground, the body placed on and
the wood piled on then it is necessary to buy
the sacred fire from the attending priest, the
chief mOurner, eth er a son, brother or neph-
cw, walks three times around the funeral
pile with the fire in his hand before lighting
The smallest quantity Of wood used is a ru.
PEGS worth, but that will not burn the entire
body, but ifpoor they burn as much rs they
can afford and dump the whole thing in the
river few hours afterwards. Curious it is
to see the boys and even men using sicves to
try and find the smallest piece of silver or
gold that is melted from the coin or ring that
is placed between the teeth of the dead. The
nearest relative does all that is necessary
with the body and is consequently defled !;
he cannot eat, sit, or in any way have com
municaton with his family until after the
fifteen days of mourning have expired, the n,
TO be restored to his caste, he has to give a
large entertainment t. his friends and rea.
tives possibly that feast will cost him all
that he make in year, but he goes to his
employer for the money and works it out in
time.
The Moslem mosqueA urangzib with its tall
and graceful minarets was built to insult the
Hndus in one of the most sacred localities
and has led 10 much bad feeling between
them, The Hindus claim the courtyard be.
tween the mosque and the city wall and will
not allow the Moslems to enter by the front
but only on one side during the two ceDtu.
res since the mosque has been built not q
stone has been loosenei. 1t was built on the
site ola magnificent temple of Madhara.
Our stay of three days in Benares was well
spent and each day it was night as we turn.
ed to our hotel far away from the dust and
bad smelling people, it was with pleasure we
contemplated the refreshing bath and clean
clothes awaiting US and our faithful servant,
Francis, always ready to do his best for his
American Sahibs.
HENRY G.. CROFT.
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