EASTERN CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 31

EASTERN CUSTOMS.

According to the religion of the Jains (a Hindoo sect) the killing of any living animal, however minute, is considered the most heinous of crimes ; they continually carry at their girdles a small broom, suspended by a string, with which they tenderly sweep aside every insect which they may observe in their paths, lest they should accidentally tread upon it. To such a length do they carry this principle that they will not pluck any herb or vegetable, nor partake of any sort of food, which may be supposed to contain animalculae, so that the only articles of sustenance remaining to them appear to be rice and a few sorts of pulse, which they cook with milk. They affirm, indeed, that it is as' foul a murder to kill an insect as to slay a man, and so extreme is .their precaution to avoid the commission of the crime that it is with great reluctance and only when reduced by the necessity of urgent thirst that they will drink water; even then they invariably suck up the fluid through a piece of fine muslin. In like manner water for ablution is repeatedly strained before they venture to use it. The natives or the Samoa Islands believe that their gods live in animals, and therefore look upon it as a sin to kill them. OUBIOTJS CHINESE NOTIONS. Both savage and semi-barbarous people have always exhibited a great repugnance to any surgical operation, however necessary, which involves amputation. The North China Herald in commenting upon this circumstance points out that the Chinese have always shown this repugnance, not on account of fear or pain, for they are patient under all kinds of physical suffering, but because they look upon it as a duty to keep the body intact. If they submit to the amputation of a limb, they invariably ask for the severed member, and keep it in a box, to be buried in due time with the owner. Sometimes they will actually eat it, thinking it only right that that which has been taken from the body should be returned to it. On the same principle an extracted tooth will be carefully preserved, or ground to powder and swallowed in water. Another curious phase of the same idea is seen in the belief that a sick parent can be cured by broth made from flesh cut from a living ohild, and it is looked upon as a sign of filial piety for the child to submit himself to an operation for that purpose. The child is supposed to be of the vital essence of the parent, and if a portion of this essence is returned to the fountainhead the parent will be greatly strengthened. The peace-loving nature of the Chinese is said to bcTiargely due to this respect for the human boay. SELF-IMMOLATION BY FIRE IN CHINA,' Several cases of self-destruction by fire have recently occurred in Wenchow, a department of China where Buddhism is exceptionally flourishing. In the Chinese Recorder Dr M'Gowan .tells the story of the sacrifice of a priest who was called Lofty-and-Profound. It is well to translate the names of those who quit the world to enter on a religious life, as that act is signalised by the assumption of a new name indicative of the neophyte's aspirations. Lofty-and-Profound was a mendicant friar from Hainan who had undertaken to raise money for rebuilding a monastery .there. A few years ago, when he came to the conclusion to abandon the few comforts that a priest may lawfully enjoy, he devoted himself to extraordinary austerities; renounced the tonsure, and eschewed ablution. Neither comb nor water touching his hair, it became matted and tangled ; it concealed his gaunt visage and swarmed with vermin, as did his filthy threadbare garment. His | haggard features, and emaciated body, and begrimed aspect rendered him a pitiable object. Fastings, vigils, and other self-in-flicted penances induced consumption which betokened an early termination of his toilsome and torturing pilgrimage — torturing, in that every third step that he took in his begging journeys he fell on his knees and struck his head on a board that he carried. PEEPAEING FOE THE IMMOLATION. I Lofty-and-Profound became more then ever disgusted with the world, and when he had been traversing the streets of Wenchow for a year he heard of the heroism o E two priests in the district conterminous who had immolated themselves on their funeral pyre. He determined to emulate their example, moved thereto by panegyrics awarded to priests who had so easily and promptly obtained their release from mundane care and suffering. Dr M'Gowan writes : — " He was gladly received as an inmate of a monastery adjacent to i several foreign residences, which became in consequence a place of resort for both the curious and the devout. People who had never contributed towards the fund for rebuilding the mendicant's temple were not now stingy, but gave freely to the immolation fund. More timber and resin were sent for burning one brother than would have been required to incinerate the entire brotherhood of monks and the sisters of the contiguous nunnery. Some fiery spirits gave rockets; imagining that a pyrotechnic display would impart eolat to the rite. The sober-minded committee of arrangements, laic and cleric, however, declined all fireworks, except small packets of gunpowder, which were reserved to place in the armpits and about the clothing of Lofty-and-Profound. doubtless in mercy to 3horten his sufferings, but, in the opinion of the profane and Vulgar, to give him a good stait upward in his journey." MISSIONARY ATTEMPTS AT DISSUASION. It was not to be supposed that a man who had displayed for many years such an inflexibility as Lofty-and-Profound had done, mid be dissuaded from the sacrifice which Db ' been ostentatiously arranged, for ; -yet v it had -»cambent on someone to make the was iv rpbat duty was undertaken in the attempt. ' W ©Bt possible manner by the Rev. gentlest, su ; < inland Mission, who tried to Mr Sayres, ot way to peace than show a more t w the infatuated man ' through suicide; *fJT

courteously yet firmly declined to convert! on the subject. On the evening . preceding the morning fixed for the burning, foreigners, seeing that intervention from other quarters could not be looked for, transmitted a petition to the Chihsien* praying for an interdiction — which was promptly accorded, and orders issued to all concerned to abandon the proposed rites. I Great was the disappointment to the public, cleric and laic ; but it was taken to heart only by him to whom self-murder was forbidden.' ' He resolutely refused food and drink ; and determining to starve himself to death, he entered the upright chest that had been prepared for his incineration. It was furnished" with a seat, and was just large enough to accommodate a man standing erect, and was to have been surrounded by piles of kindling Wood, which he himself was to fire. In the morning he was found dead in the chest, having expired of chagrin in the order of filth and sanctity. His body was placed on a pyre made of the wood that had lieen contributed to burn him alive, and thus he was finally consumed. In this part of China the cremation of priests is a rare occurrence. Only the most fanatical devote their cadavers to combustion. SELF-SACRIFICE IN THE SACKED CITY OF HANG-CHAU. | In the region of K'angbsi at Hsiao-shan, j near the gay and sacred city of Hang-chau, | a priest, after a period of 10 days' solitude, : fasting, and meditation in a cave, announced that on a certain day his spirit would betake itself to the west. He was visited by great numbers, to whom he foretold future events, knowing intuitively the surnames of visitors. On the day designated crowds assembled to witness his transformation, with whom he conversed until the hour fixed for his departure; then sitting with his face to the south he applied two incense sticks to his nostrils and soon flames issued from his nose, which extended to face, head, and body, consuming all but his bones. These were collected together and interred in a dagoba.