A Hindoo Cremation.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7863, 4 July 1905, Page 4

A Hindoo Cremation.

Towards the upper end of I lie ghats is thr burning ground. You hear, writes F. J. Alsop in "Outing," hoarse, loud cried of "Kam ! Ramana ! " and behold a burial procession is coming. Four men carry the corpse slung between two bamboo poles, and cry to the god Kam. I lis is the personification of fifial love, and thus it is meet lliat they should call him to witness. They swing down the river and immerse (he corpse. It is wrapped in a white shroud stained with red Matches. Then they lift the, head slight,y out of the water and remove the shroud from the face, splashing water five times upon the mouth. Others, in the meantime, are building a wooden pyre, made of faggois near by, and, when finished, standing thiee or four feet above ground. The corpse i« then placed upon the wooden altar and covered with faggots. This done, all but two mount the ramparts above and watch the final ceremony. Of the two remaining, one pours oil upon the wood from a small (lav dish, while the other goes to Hie tirehouse above- He soon returns with a long sfraw wisp, blazing at one end. lie advances to the corpse's head, touches it with the wisp, and then circles the pyre, five times, touching the head each time until the fifth, when he places the blazing wisp beneath the feet and the whole pile hursts into (lame. When all is consumed and ashes are raked awav into the river ami float, nwny to bliss eternal.