THE TOW BUS OF HI LUNGE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4825, 23 April 1890, Page 3

THE TOW BUS OF HI LUNGE.

Lady DulTorin thus describes the celebrated Towers of Silouco at Bombay: — Sir Jurueisljeo Jeejeebhoy ciimo to do the honours of Uic placo. It is really moel interesting and curious, and a though it would bo hard to ricaicile oneself to the idea of InyiDg out ouo'a deid to bo torn to pi cca by vultures, yet undoubedly tlie system lias much to bo said for .t in ft hot climate. Tho Parseo idea U that the enrlh should mt be contamicated by any die <ying matter, mid their funerals are jumductcd m those Tuwera of Silence m the following way : Tlio toivora nro rjund, butnot very high, and nro uueovorod. Insido thro is a 6tone platform miming all round, with lirec sets of grooves sloping downwards lowarfs a deep nell m tho centra. Tho outer circh of grooves ia for men -good actions'; tho second line for women — 'good words '; uid the third for childron— ' good thouglia.' When a porton die? he ia placed on un iron bier and corriod by official bearers, uccunpuiied by a procession of friends md mourners, all waiting, und all kept togolier by holding the ends oE white poclft handkerchiefs between them. Whon thry reach the placo the friends stnnd at a distance from tho tower, tho bearers et i ij> the corpso at tho entrance and placo tlo body naked m one of tho grooves, lie vulturoo aro ull sitling on tho trees and wal's watching, and ia less than flvo hours they have rcducod it to a skeleton. In üboutcigkt days tho bones are completely dried up, und they aro then lifted with lirgo tonga and thrown into tho central well, whoro tbrj crumple into (lust, 'i he rain washes dovin iuto Ibis well and gradually carries nil ttwnj into tho druiiiß provided for I ho purpose, anJ which have largo filters at cither end, so tb.;t when the water readies mother earth there is no contaminating matter m it.