As soon as they are dead, and almost before they are cold, they are taken to the place where they are burnt, and which is separated from the high road by a wall.  In this place I saw one corpse and one person at the point of death, while on six funeral-piles were six corpses with the flames flaring on high all around them.  A number of birds, larger than turkeys, and called here philosophers, {153} small vultures, and ravens were seated upon the neighbouring trees and house-tops, in anxious expectation of the half-burnt corpses.  I was horrified.  I hurried away, and it was long before I could efface the impression made upon my mind by this hideous spectacle.

In the case of rich people, the burning of the body sometimes costs more than a thousand rupees; the most costly wood, such as rose and sandal wood, being employed for that purpose.  Besides this, a Brahmin, music, and female mourners, are necessary parts of the ceremony.

After the body has been burnt, the bones are collected, laid in a vase, and thrown into the Ganges, or some other holy river.  The nearest relation is obliged to set fire to the pile.

There are naturally none of these ceremonies among poor people.  They simply burn their dead on common wood or cow-dung; and if they cannot even buy these materials, they fasten a stone to the corpse and throw it into the river.

I will here relate a short anecdote that I had from a very trustworthy person.  It may serve as an example of the atrocities that are often committed from false ideas of religion.

Mr. N—–­ was once, during his travels, not far from the Ganges, and was accompanied by several servants and a dog.  Suddenly the latter disappeared, and all the calling in the world would not bring him back.  He was at last discovered on the banks of the Ganges, standing near a human body, which he kept licking.  Mr. N—–­ went up and found that the man had been left to die, but had still some spark of life left.  He summoned his attendants, had the slime and filth washed off the poor wretch’s face, and wrapped him well up.  In a few days after he was completely recovered.  On Mr. N—–­’s now being about to leave him, the man begged and prayed him not to do so, as he had lost his caste, and would never more be recognised by any of his relations; in a word that he was completely wiped out of the list of the living.  Mr. N—–­ took him into his service, and the man, at the present day, is still in the enjoyment of perfect health.  The event narrated occurred years ago.

The Hindoos themselves acknowledge that their customs, with regard to dying persons, occasion many involuntary murders; but their religion ordains that when the physician declares there is no hope left, the person must die.