A Javanese Burial at Sea

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1921, Page 4

A Javanese Burial at Sea

Til,, punt, ilock in til," rrar of tlio ship \v:is (*;ist in mysterious shadows. Tli,. big wheel. the Ige of tile deck :,li,n :iii,l tli," forms of men and women iiind,' slurp silhouettes against the s(‘n. shimmering under tli,. t r<'»}>icnI ninoii. A lone line nf black (lends ~,nil(l 1,,' seen in the blue-black sky just ~ I,,ive the idnmst invisible horizon. The ihroh. throb of tlio ship’s lienrt jind the swishing of the water post the Stern were the only sounds, save an eeeiisional whisper as passengers and crew quietly assenihled to pny then r, speets to the dead. Almost :,hove the propellers, , narrow white draped platform has hern raised, slanting over the rails towards the water. In front of this was a white cm Bred (aide on which, harely distinguishable, were rice with eliopstieks. a dish of ITnit. a dish of almonds (the favorite fond "I' the deceased!. and a vn.se containing scent sticks, which plowed in the darkness like a primp of tiny red stars. throwing off a wonderful traginnec on tile torpid atmospliere. Suddenly a sharp wind swept tile deck, svnding the white cloths Happing as though anxious to break tin' uncanny silence. I.’roni tli,. deck above came the voices of Japanese sailors and a shuffling of I’cet down the stops. The burden was 100 dillieult tor mea. -nred tread as they appeared, carrying iheir dead comrade, sewn in white -aililnlh. henvily weighted. Alter placing the corpse on the platform. they tell into their places ill the loop white lines of passengers and sailors. leaving a narrow passage in front id the table. A hell tinkled, the engines (topped, and tile captain, a grey-haired man. walked slowly forward. Itowing low before the hotly, he chanted the speech t,. the dead ill a choking voice. !1 is voice rose and fell, now almost a wail, now dropping to low soil, n notes, now a soft comforting tone. The line of figures, on cither side, swaying backwards and forwards in balance with the ship’s motion, scented to keep time to the cadence. The captain then reverently placed a glowing scent stick in the vns,. as a sign nf his affection. The remainder of the officers slowly approached in pairs, and, Itowing. placed their scent sticks in the vase. A signal from the captain, and two of tlie crew stepped forward and, lift dig one end of the platform, sent their dead comrade to the deop. Then gathering the offerings from the table they east thorn towards the white foam which marked the restingplace of a fellow sailor. to arrange through Mr Dalgleish for tile work 1.0 Ik 1 done as soon as possible. In reply to a question All- Wood stated the provision of a building for boiling water on Oa.ss Square would he determined immediately. The liurongli Overseer had a report ready on the matter now. Approved. 'l'll,, meeting rose at 8.10 p.m. Pse “NAZOL” and you won’t keep a had cold or sore throat above a day or two. Acts like a charm. (>0 doses Is lid