Indian Antiquary Vol 06

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 66

42
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(FEBRUARY, 1877.
tribes who most nearly represent pre-bistoric come down, with little change in many of its peoples.*
features, from the remotest antiquity. The eight In 1874 the Right Reverend Mar Karillas feet square tomb filled up with spices and incense, Jehoiakim, Syrian Metropolitan of Malabar, died in which the dead was seated in his habit as he at Kottayam,-a venerable and highly re- lived, recalls Egyptian and Etruscan tomb chamspected prelate. The Madras papers at the time bers, as well as medieval modes of interment; contained the following account of the faneral, and possibly all may be developments of the which has an interest and air of antiquity about kistvaen or sepulchral stone chamber of prethe details that make it worthy of record in historic times, in which, too, skeletons have at an antiquarian journal :-"The body was dress- times, as in Guernsey, been found placed in a ed in full canonicals and placed in a sitting sitting posture. postare on a chair, and then removed into the Here perhaps a place may be found for rechurch, where it was left in that position, with cording another funeral memorial of bygone the pastoral staff and crozier placed in the hands, days. The port of Båtkal, in South Kánara, until the third day, and during this time the was once important, possessing a factory, and usual ceremonies prescribed by the Syrian frequented by vessels from Europe. It is now ritual were performed. On the third day-it deserted except by native craft, and three is rather singular that about this time only mouldering tombs preserve the else forgotten signs of decay showed themselves--nearly two names of some of those bold and enterprising hundred priests and about ten thousand people | pioneer Englishmen who, in times before "the assembled for the funeral. The body, still seated Company,"sought their fortunes in the then halfon the chair, was carried by priests under a fabulous East. Many such memorials survive canopy in solemn procession to some distance, in now deserted nooks and spots in India, mute and brought back to the north-east side of the witnesses of daring and wasted lives. Copies of church, where a tomb measuring eight square the inscriptions on the Båtkal tombs are subfeet, with a seat inside like a chair, was built. joined :The custom hitherto was to bury bishops within the church, but the deceased had desired that Here lyeth the Body of William Barton, his body should be buried outside, but close to C. H. Y. R. U. R. G. I. O.N., Dec. XXX. the church. In this seat the body was placed Nov. A.D., Ntri Christi, Salv. Mund. again in & sitting posture, facing the east, and
M.D.C.X.X.X. the burial service was chanted. The brother of
2. the deceased then removed the ring, pastoral Here lyeth the Body of George Wye, Merstaff and crozier, to be sent to the Patriarch of chant. Antioch. From the roof of the tomb a globe Dec. XXXI. March. A.D. Ntri Xti Salv. lamp was hung up about a foot or so before Mundi. the face of the deceased, and after the entomb
M.D.C.X.X.X.I. ment it was lit, and a large quantity of incense
3. thrown into the tomb until it reached the neck Here lyeth the Body of Anto. Vem. Worthy, of the corpse, when the stones were piled up, and Merchant. Dec. I. April. A.D. Ntri. Xti. the builders' closed the tomb." This antique
Salv. Mandi. ceremonial of in antique church has probably
M.D.C.X.X.X.V.I.I.
ON THE ANCIENT NAGARI NUMERALS.
BY PANDIT BHAGVÅNLÅL INDRAJI. The researches of Mr. Thomas, Dr. Bhautions eroploys four sets of different signs, viz. Dåji, and General Canningham have proved be one for the numbers from 1 to 9; a second for the yond doubt that the system of numeral notation numbers 10 to 90; a third for the numbers from used in the most ancient Indian Nagari inscrip- 100 to 900; and a fourth for the thousands. Most
It is noteworthy that whereas the Todas always in Sorapar and Haidarabad (Dekhan), found several place a body on the funeral pile face downwards, Col. skeletons laid in the stone cists with the face downwarda Meadows Taylor, in his exploration of cairns and kistranstoo.