Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-18

The burning CHAT where human bodies
are cremated is q neglected bank quilted
by rains Pyres, some new, others half
consumed, are scattered about. Ghouls
are poking among the ashes for coins or
Jewels, while more systematic ones carry
pans or ashes to the waters edge and
wash this pay dirt like any placer miner.
Along this revolving sequel to yestcr-
days burning lie fresh bodies, wrapped
in white sheets and gurlands of mari
colds. The bodies are dipped in the Gan
rcs and laid In rows, with the sacred
stream LAYING Their feet and profanc
ghouls washing pay dirt from yesterdays
pyres between and beside them, shaking
lgrime and cinders over the helpless. flow
er wreathed bundles.
This rude open air crematory is the
monopoly of the dormi. lowest caste of
all peoples, who charge extravagantly
| for their service and for the wood the
oil and the fame which lights the funeral
torch for touching off the pyre.
The earlier in the morning the burning
occurs the greater certainty OF paradise
for the deceased. SO the domris charges
begin with extravagant sums for burning
! the rich and noble at sunrise and decrease
until in the afternoon the very poor and
the criminals from prison are burned
or half burned-and the rubbish and
bones shovclled down the bank.
Only the highest caste priests and the
holy fakirs escape the torch. They are
not supposed to need publication by fire.
The fakirs are rowed to midstream and
committed to Mother Ganges-and prob
ably to the alligators.
AS the morning warns up all Benares
strolls along the CHATS. as all Atlantic
city trcops to the boardwalk. Bolated
Brahmins keep on performing rites and
prayers while their next neiGhbor on the
over-hangng platform shampoos his head
or brushes his tooth.
Sons of tho Gauges, n band OF robust
Brahmins whose speciality Is prayer fol-
the dead, below the merits Of their inter
ceding powers; fakrs wall and hold Their
shriveed arms more conspicuously In the
10 year poses of rigidity or stretch them
selves more ostentatously on the beds
of nails.
And everywhere the sacred cows pusf
their way. nosing into grain sacks an6
rice bowls unhindered, while stately
Brahmins. painted in geometriCal devices
Of the highest caste and pety, salaan
ahiectly to then-a mad world, a crazy
crowd surely.
The throng is dcnsest, the buzz ant
the believing loudest at the CHAT below
the cremation ground, for there are thu
sacred pools flied with Vshnu's perspira
ton, and where Devi dropped her ear
ring.
At this storm center of the holy lane
| OF the Gauges bank the din and the no
sun are dizzying and the mixture of Gan
I ges water. old flower garlands milk. but
I ter. oil sweetmeats, spices and incense
cast into the tank all day and every da,
smells 10 heaven. The odor Is sckenina
? the sight more so, and the lepers ant
l hidoous sick folk who crawl UP an
1 down the steps are fit figures In this pic
5 ture of heathcniSm triumphant and un
disturbed.
Perhaps It Is well. that Mrs. Annie BE
g SAINT has established her college at Ben
o ares to teach the Hindu their own re
I ligion. the purer faith of Nedic times
l freed from all the idolatrous and Graz
y denominations of later days. Nothin
could be as bad as the creed that now en-
slaves them.
: Posours and unbalanced European!
e who come out to India loudly proclaimin
$ their willingness to labor with Mrs. BE
,, SAINTS college. and even Pierre Lott afte
y all his senttmentalty over the Hindu
Il could not stand the severe and monks
s life prescribed for him by the Englis
c prophetess and returned to the heshpot
T of the worldly folk.