aroundworldortra00peebiala-1

224 AROUND THE WORLD.
THE BURNING GHAUTS. — CREMATION.
How are the dead best disposed of ? Certain American
Indians, lifting their dead warriors into forest-trees, leave
them to assimilate with the elements ; Christians inter the
mortal remains of their loved ones beneath the turf ; Persians
expose the bodies of the dead to the sun on their
*' towers of silence," while the Hindoos burn theirs in ghauts
consecrated to this purpose. Many scientists and hygienic
reformers consider the last the preferable method. With
Gen. Litchfield for guide, we repaired one afternoon to the
ashy ghaut of flame to witness the burning of the dead.
Entering the brick-wall-inclosed arena, the eye fell upon
several piles of smoldering ashes ; while near by was the
corpse of a pleasant-faced young girl
of some eleven years,
awaiting the priestly preparations for burning. The redpaint
spot on the maiden's forehead indicated that she was
married. A tearless mother sat by the rude bier, with a
naked babe at the breast. A sad stillness pervaded the
scene. When the dry hard-wood, intermixed with hght
sticks of bamboo and sandal, was laid across the shallow
trench, and the pile ready for the cremation, the priests
anointing the head with oil, and sprinkling the body with
sacred water, placed the poorly-clad and ghastly corpse upon
the rough pyre.
Then, bending the limbs to occupy as little
space as possible, and putting seeds, boiled rice, and bananas
to the mouth, the lighted torch was applied to the husky
bamboo. Soon the fire, flame, and smoke, curling and
hissing around the sandal-scented pile, transformed the
organized dust to its original dust and ashes. During the
burning, the priests paced around the fiery pyre, chanting
their prayers of consolation. Thousands flock to the Ganges
to die and be burned. Nothing can be sweeter than for a
Hindoo to die with his eyes resting upon the sacred river.
The funeral pyres of the wealthy are made of the sandaltree,
spice-wood, fragrant flowers, incense, and ointments