Upon the land side of the boulevard which skirts the shore of the bay, not far from the university of Bombay, is the burning ghat of the Hindus, where the bodies of their dead are cremated in the open air and in a remarkably rude and indifferent manner.  The proceedings may be witnessed by any person who takes the trouble to visit the place and has the patience to wait for the arrival of a body.  It is just as public as a burial in any cemetery in the United States.  Bodies are kept only a few hours after death.  Those who die at night are burned the first thing in the morning, so that curious people are usually gratified if they visit the place early.  Immediately after a poor Hindu sufferer breathes his last the family retire and professional undertakers are brought in.  The latter bathe the body carefully, dress it in plain white cotton cloth, wrap it in a sheet, with the head carefully concealed, place it upon a rude bier made of two bamboo poles and cross pieces, with a net work of ropes between, and four men, with the ends of the poles on their shoulders, start for the burning ghat at a dog trot, singing a mournful song.  Sometimes they are followed by the sons or the brothers of the deceased, who remain through the burning to see that it is properly done, but more often that duty is entrusted to an employe or a servant or some humble friend of the family in whom they have confidence.  Arriving at the burning ghat, negotiations are opened with the superintendent or manager, for they are usually private enterprises or belong to corporations and are conducted very much like our cemeteries.  The cheapest sort of fire that can be provided costs two rupees, which is sixty-six cents in American money, and prices range from that amount upwards according to the caste and the wealth of the family.  When a rich man’s body is burned sandal-wood and other scented fuel is used and sometimes the fire is very expensive.  After an agreement is reached coolies employed on the place make a pile of wood, one layer pointing one way and the next crossed at right angles, a hole left in the center being filled with kindling and quick-burning reeds.  The body is lifted from the bier and placed upon it, then more wood is piled on and the kindling is lit with a torch.  If there is plenty of dry fuel the corpse is reduced to ashes in about two hours.  Usually the ashes are claimed by friends, who take them to the nearest temple and after prayers and other ceremonies cast them into the waters of the bay.

The death rate in Bombay is very large.  The bubonic plague prevails there with a frightful mortality.  Hence cremation is safer than burial.  In the province of Bombay the total deaths from all diseases average about 600,000 a year, and you can calculate what an enormous area would be required for cemeteries.  In 1900, on account of the famine, the deaths ran up to 1,318,783, and in 1902 they were more than 800,000.  Of these 128,259 were from the plague, 13,600 from cholera, 5,340 from smallpox, and 2,212 from other contagious diseases.  Hence the burning ghats were very useful, for at least 80 percent of the dead were Brahmins and their bodies were disposed of in that way.