The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-26

to heaven. I have seen cremation IN
many lands, but nothing like this. The
bodies are burned right out in the
open, and the nearest relative of the
dead lights the fire. The wood Is usu-
ally arranged by Doms, a certain caste
who. according to the Hindoo rites,
can start ones soul best toward heav-
en-. They work for price and at SO
much they furnish the fire for the
burning. We can see some standing
about
Now we are Just opposite tho FUN
eral pyre The wind has sprung UP
and is tanning the flame. There is
cracking and frying. the smoke pc
comes denser and that fat Brahmin at
IN. left has burst out in q blaze. It
is horrible sight, and the more SO
from the hurry Of the relatives VINO
,tir up tho fires that they may burn
ant the quicker. Sec, there Is one
warnoinr his hands In those flames.
ana AZ tho fre nearer tho river somo
hova have pulled UP their gowns ana
ara toastinE their thighs and calves oy
their burning fathers ana oro'nefs.
Cremation in India.
We land from our boats ana stop
while watching the scene. There are
.shas and fires everywhere. Hero a
woman lies on the pyre. She Is CLAD IN
white cotton and her shaved head rests
on dirty blue pillow six inches m
thickness. Her arms are folded. Sne
| Is as thin as a skeleton and is prooaply
q widow. Next to her Is the corpse
OF n well-to-do merchant. 1t Is also m
! cotton. The Doms take 1t, strip OF
the clothes and prepare 1t FOR ousn-
| ing. The pile OF cordwood Is reaoS
1t is two feet high and about six iee'
square. They first spread white chees,
cloth upon 1t and then raise the nake.
| body and spread 1t out at full iensth
rhev cover 1t with cheese cloth.
has now a mosquito netting above ane
a MOSQUITO netting below, that is all
More wood Is piled up, kindling sticks
Of cedar are inserted and shovel OF
| coal is brought from that fire at the
right. OIL is poured on, the fire lighted
and the cremation goes on until noth-
ing but ashes is left. Tho relatives
throw these into the Ganges and the
ceremony IS over The caste which su.
perinteuds the cremations is said to be
rich, and one OF them has made $500
900 In burning the dead. They nav
various charges for each body, accord
! ing to the wealth of the owner.
a peasant may be burned for dol
lar or so, while ratah VIII get o.
cheap at $500. I am told that pay
ment must be made before the bushes
begins, and no money no fire. The bod
les of the poor are often not more tina
half consumed. and there are vulture
hanging about which feed upon tn
corpses. snatching the flesh out OF tn
/. river as 1t floats down the stream.
A shave for Two Cents.
AS we walk up through the city w
stop at an open place near the rive
: and watch the BARRIERS shaving an
shampooins the worshipers after thei
bath In the Ganges. The price for
shave is 2 cents. for a hair cut TIL
same, and for q shampoo from the toe
and finger tips to the crown is only
cents. The shaving is different fror
ours Both barber and customer ar
; almost naked and they sit on tn
, ground. The barber squats on nj
heels as he works. See this man bein
shaved His neck and chin have bee
, scraped and also the eyebrows. TIL
: barber is now shaving him under th
, arm and taking the hair off his ches
, Before he has finished the mans ski
will be as bars as drum head save TO
, one little black lock left on the crown
t You can see it there now 1t is