The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-26

stream full. The steps are crowded with
worshipers clad in the thinnest of cot
ton. There are shriveled old men and
women, wrapped in a single breadth Of
dirty white stuff. standing waist deep In
the water and holding up their long, thin,
bony arms, while with chattering teeth
they mutter prayers to their gods. Now
and then they duck down ito the water,
coming UP gasping and looking colder
than ever. Such bathing for you and me
would mean death 1t may mean death
to them, but here death is salvation.
There are also plump girls and young
men. The nut-brown skins of the maid
ems shine as the water trickles over
them and their bright eyes fash at us
as they whisper their prayers. They
raise their arms toward heaven. showing
gold and silver bracelets, and some have
gold rings from their wrists to their ell
bows and thence to their shoulders. Some
wear gold nose rings and others have ear
ornaments which hang to their should
ers Not a few hide their faces. They
may be high-caste Hindoo maidens. Wo-
men, as a rule, do not battle with the
men. They are huddled off In groups by
themselves. They come down in parties,
each carrying a brass jar to take back
some water to aid them in their worship
at the temples.
As we go down the river We see that
the bathers keep on their clothes as they
enter the water, although these clothes
are often no more than a breach-clout.
The Hindoos think 1t indecent to go naked
into the Ganges, and they were very in.
dgnant at some Engishmen who bathed
here not long ago perfectly nude. They
call the river Mother Gangaand when
they step down into it speak Of being en-
braced by the goddess.
The women bathers are usually clad in
only one garment and this q cotton sheet
which clings to their bodies. AS they
leave they turn their backs to the men
and, removing the cloth, wash It and
themselves while they pray. They do
not seem to care for the exposure of any,
thing but their faces and a woman may
pull the cloth from her bosom to cover
her eyes. As to the old women, some of
those here have planned all their lives
for this bath in the Ganges. Upon the
train which brought me to Benares were
six who were at least three score and
ten. AS we stopped at the station these
women went out together. each carrying
a brass pot in which she expected to
bring some Ganges water back home.
How the River Saves the Dead
AS our boat goes onward we pass tenn
Pile after temple, on the steps of which.
sit half-naked priests with boxes of red
paint before them. marking the believers
with the signs of the gods. A littel far
Their on we come to break in the build
ings There is gulley in the heart of
the city lined with what look like bon
fires campfires. Now we are nearer
and can see that the wood OF each fire
has been piled up in a square, and on the
top of each lies corpse. Those are the
bodies of the dead who are being burned
on the Banks Of the Ganges. that their
ashes may float out upon its waters and
their souls go straight to heaven have
seen cremation in many lands, but MOTH
ing like this. The bodies are burned right
o'lt in tre open. and the nearest rela-
tive of the dead lights the fire. The wood
is usually arranged by Doms. certain
caste who, according to the Hindoo rites
can start ones soul best toward heaven
They work for a price and at so much
they furnish the fire for the burning. We
can see some standing about.
Now we are just opposite the funeral
pyre. The wind has sprung up and Is
aiming the flame. There is a .cracklins'
and frying, the smoke becomes denser
and that fat Brahmin at the left has
burst into blaze. 1t Is a horrible sight,
and the moro so from the hurry oftthe
relatives who stir up the fires that they
may burn out the quicker. See. there is
one warming his hands In those flames,
and at the fire nearer the. river some
boys have pulled up their gowns and
are toasting their thighs and calves by
their burning fathers and brothers
Cremation in India
We land from our boats and stop
while watching the scene. There are
ashes and fires everywhere. Here
man lies on the pyre. She is clad in
white cotton and her shaved head rests
on a dirty blue pillow six inches in thick
ness. Her arms are folded. She is as
thin as skeleton and IL probably n
widow. Next to her Is the CORPSE Of q