Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-19

300 of them, measuring from six inches to
two feet In height
pie is the '.Walkeshwar," which Is dedi-
Gated to the Sand Lord and occupies a
point upon the shore of the bay not far
from the water 1t has been holy place for
many centuries. The legend says that not
long after the creation of the world Rama.
one of the most powerful of the Hindu
gods. while on his way to Ceylon to re-
cover Sta, his bride, who had been kid
mapped. halted and camped there for
night and went through various expert
ences which make a story long and te-
dious, but of profound interest to Hindu
theologians and students of mythology.
The temple is about 100 years old, but does
not compare with those in other cities of
India. 1t is surrounded by various build
ings for the residence of the Brahmins.
lodging places for pilgrims and devotees,
which are considered excellent examples
of Hindu architecture. Many wealthy peo-
pie have cottages on the grounds which
they occupy for few days each year on
festival occasions or retreats.
Burning Bodies of the Hindus.
Upon the land side of the boulevard
which skirts the shore of the bay, not far
from the university. is the burning CHAT of
the Hindus, where the bodies OF their dead
are cremated in the open air and in the
rudest and most Indifferent manner. The
proceedings may be witnessed by any per-
and has the patience to wait for the ar
rival Of body. 1t is just as public as
burial in any cemetery in the United
states Bodies are kept only few hours
AFTER DEATH. Those who die at night are
buried the first thing In the morning, so
that curious people are usually gratified if
they visit the place early.
Immediately after poor Hindu sufferer
Dreathes his last the family retire and pro-
fessional undertakers are brought in The
latter battle the body carefully, dress it in
plain white cotton cloth, wrap 1t in a sheet,
with the head carefully concealed, place it
upon a rude bier made of two bamboo
poles and cross-pieces, with network of
ropes between, and four men, with the
ends of the poles on their shoulders, start
Tor the burning CHAT at dog trot, singing
mournful song. Sometimes they are fol-
lowed by the sons or the brothers of the
deceased, who remain through the burning
to see that 1t is properly done, but more
oIteh- tnat DUTY Is infrusted to an employee
or a servant or some humble friend of the
family in whom they have confidence.
Arriving at the burning CHAT negotiations
are opened with the superintendent or man
ager' Tor they are usually private enter
PIises OF peionS to corporations, and are
conducted very much like our cemeteries.
me cheapest sort of a fire that can be
provided costs two rupees, which is Go cents
IN our money, and prices range from that
amount upward according to the caste and
the wealth of the family. When a rich
man body is burned sandal wood and
other scented fuel is used, and sometimes
the f1re is very expensive
AFTER an agreement is reached coolies
employed on the place make pile of wood.
one layer pointing on way and the next
crossed at right angles, a hole left in tbe
center being filled with kindlng and quick
burning reeds. The body is lifted from the
pier and placed upon it,, then more wood
IS piled on and the kindiing is lit with a
loren. Ii there is plenty of dry fuel the
corpse IS reduced to ashes in about two
hours, Usually the ashes are claimed by
Irlends, who take them to the nearest tenn
pie and after prayers and other ceremo-
mes cast them into the water of the bay.
Inc death rate in Bombay is very large.
me bubonic plague always prevails here
with frishtful mortality Hence crema
tlon is safer practice than burial In the
province OF Bombay the total deaths from
an diseases average about 100000 wear
ana you can calculate what an enormous
area would be required for cemeteries Tn
tooo on account of the famine they ran nm
70 70 LOIS, 'SS, and in 1892 they were over
$4,000. OF these 12S,259 were from the
prague, 1900 from cholera. $40 from
smallpox and 2,212 from other conta eious
diseases. Hence the burning CHATS were
very useful, for at least so per cent of the
oead We're Hindus. and their bodies were
disposed of that way.