THE TOWER OF SILENCE.
On a hill in the island of Bombay (called by Europeans Malabar Hill) stands, all within a short distance of each other, the churchyard of the Christians, the cemetery of the Mussulmans, the place were the Hindoos cremate their dead, and the Tower of Silence where the Parsees leave theirs uncoffined, to be devoured by the birds of the air. It is a lofty square enclosure without roof or covering of any kind. Huge bloated vultures and kites, gorged with human flesh, throng lazily the summit of the lofty wall surrounding the stone pavement, which is divided into three compartments, wherein the corpses of men, of women and of children are laid apart, and all nude ns they came into the world. Some relative or friend anxiously watches, at a short distance, to ascertain which eye is plucked out first by the birds, and from thence it is inferred whether the soul of the departed is happy or miserable. The Parsees regard with horror the Hindoo method of disposing of the dead, by throwing the bodies or ashes into rivers; yet their own custom is even more repugnant to the feelings of the Europeans in India.—Peoples of the world.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TEML18831113.2.14
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Temuka Leader, Issue 1173, 13 November 1883, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
203THE TOWER OF SILENCE. Temuka Leader, Issue 1173, 13 November 1883, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in