History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. IV.] THE PRINCE OF WALES. 209

be in a sanitary point of view. There is no spot in Bombay where the breezes appear so healthful as in the beautiful gardens which surround the towers. Nothing during all my travels throughout India, from Cashmere to Cape Comorin, has instructed me more than my two visits to the Parsi towers of silence.”

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales when in Bombay was pleased, in company with His Grace the Duke of Sutherland and Dr. W. H. Russell, to visit the “dokhmas” on Malabar Hill.*

1 “The Prince of Wales and his party were received at the steps by Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai, who led them up to the arched gateway of the compound. Here they were met by Mr. Nasarvanji Beramji, the Secretary of the Parsi Panchayet. Mr. Nasarvanji led the party farther up into the compound by the main road, pointing out to His Royal Highness four of the towers, from a distance. It was stated to His Royal Highness that one of the towers, known as the Modi’s Tower, was built as far back as two centuries ago. Arriving at the fifth and largest tower, the nearest to the western portion of the compound wall, the royal party halted near a table on which was placed a model of a tower of silence. Mr. Nasarvanji minutely explained to His Royal Highness, by means of the model, the internal construction and arrangements of a tower, pointing out the several oblong stone receptacles for depositing the dead bodies, as well as the footpaths by which, without touching the remains of dead bodies previously exposed, the corpse-bearers reached each receptacle. He then explained how each body was consumed or dismembered, at the same time describing the tenets and principles of the Zoroastrian religion in connection with the disposal of the dead. In the model was shown a pit, as to the special use of which His Royal Highness made particular inquiry. It was explained that the bones collected from the receptacles were thrown into that pit, where they were reduced to atoms by atmospheric influences. It was further stated that, after the bones were reduced to atoms, there remained in the pit nothing but lime and phosphorus, which were in no degree offensive or injurious to health. His Royal Highness spoke in approbation of the sanitary precautions adopted in this method for the disposal of the dead. The royal party, led by Sir Jamshedji, then turned into the neatly laid out garden, and next

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