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IS 197.2 Story of an Emigrant.
yards of dirty cotton cloth, most of them sprinkled with
ashes or dry clay, their faces streaked in gray, red or yellow
colors, and the hair done up in the shape of a chignon and
held together with wet clay; but although presenting a
picture of dire want in their persons they have in the camp a
large herd of costly elephants richly adorned with covers of
satin and velvet embroideried in gold, silver, precious stones
and gems, proving that their begging has not been in vain.
On the river bank is the headquarters of the pilgrims from
one of the Southern provinces, and over yonder that of those
from the North or East. Everywhere is heard the noise of
trading and bargaining, of greeting and ecstacy, of laughter
and astonishment, and of the moaning and cries of the sick
and suffering — indeed a regular pandemonium.
The February sun already shone scorchingly hot upon the
low, shadeless valley, the thermometer rising to 90°. In the
night, however, it was unusually cold for that country, and
most of the pilgrims being poor and their clothing and food
wretched, dangerous diseases began to break out among the
weak and exhausted. The terrible cholera claimed numerous
victims every day, many died from weakness and negligence,
others again perished through accidents on land and water,
for nobody seemed to be very particular about human life,
since death just there was considered so very desirable.
Along the shores of the river flickered hundreds of fires, at
which the remains of the dead are burned to ashes and
scattered into the river by the officiating Brahmins, to the
infinite edification of the relatives of the dead.
The Hindoos are a very peaceful and loyal people, and
willingly submit to order and discipline. Thus designated
groups were conducted to the water at certain times and
places, which was highly necessary, as otherwise the strong
would have trampled down and crushed the weak.
The first ceremony consists in shaving the head, or at
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