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and having dumped its contents on the beach the three Indian servants
began to build a funeral pile； a little longer than it was wide。 They
worked alone； for no profane hand must aid in this solemn duty。
It was one o'clock in the morning when the relations of the deceased were
informed that they might accomplish their part of the work。
The door of the little house they occupied was open； and we perceived；
lying on a stretcher in the small； dimly lighted vestibule the corpse
covered with white silk。 We could see him plainly as he lay stretched
out on his back； his outline clearly defined beneath this white veil。
The East Indians； standing at his feet； remained motionless； while one of
them performed the prescribed rites； murmuring unfamiliar words in a low；
monotonous tone。 He walked round and round the corpse； touching it
occasionally； then； taking an urn suspended from three slender chains； he
sprinkled it for some time with the sacred water of the Ganges； that East
Indians must always carry with them wherever they go。
Then the stretcher was lifted by four of them who started off at a slow
march。 The moon had gone down； leaving the muddy； deserted streets in
darkness； but the body on the stretcher appeared to be luminous； so
dazzlingly white was the silk； and it was a weird sight to see； passing
along through the night； the semi…luminous form of this corpse； borne by
those men； the dusky skin of whose faces and hands could scarcely be
distinguished from their clothing in the darkness。
Behind the corpse came three Indians； and then； a full head taller than
themselves and wrapped in an ample traveling coat of a soft gray color；
appeared the outline of an Englishman； a kind and superior man； a friend
of theirs； who was their guide and counselor in their European travels。
Beneath the cold； misty sky of this little northern beach I felt as if I
were taking part in a sort of symbolical drama。 It seemed to me that
they were carrying there； before me； the conquered genius of India；
followed； as in a funeral procession； by the victorious genius of England
robed in a gray ulster。
On the shingly beach the four bearers halted a few moments to take
breath； and then proceeded on their way。 They now walked quickly；
bending beneath the weight of their burden。 At length they reached the
funeral pile。 It was erected in an indentation； at the very foot of the
cliff； which rose above it perpendicularly a hundred meters high；
perfectly white but looking gray in the night。
The funeral pile was about three and a half feet high。 The corpse was
placed on it and then one of the Indians asked to have the pole star
pointed out to him。 This was done； and the dead Rajah was laid with his
feet turned towards his native country。 Then twelve bottles of kerosene
were poured over him and he was covered completely with thin slabs of
pine wood。 For almost another hour the relations and servants kept
piling up the funeral pyre which looked like one of those piles of wood
that carpenters keep in their yards。 Then on top of this was poured the
contents of twenty bottles of oil； and on top of all they emptied a bag
of fine shavings。 A few steps further on； a flame was glimmering in a
little bronze brazier； which had remained lighted since the arrival of
the corpse。
The moment had arrived。 The relations went to fetch the fire。 As it was
barely alight； some oil was poured on it； and suddenly a flame arose
lighting up the great wall of rock from summit to base。 An Indian who
was leaning over the brazier rose upright； his two hands in the air； his
elbows bent； and all at once we saw arising； all black on the immense
white cliff； a colossal shadow； the shadow of Buddha in his hieratic
posture。 And the little pointed toque that the man wore on his head even
looked like the head…dress of the god。
The effect was so striking and unexpected that I felt my heart beat as
though some supernatural apparition had risen up before me。
That was just what it wasthe ancient and sacred image； come from the
heart of the East to the ends of Europe； and watching over its son whom
they were going to cremate there。
It vanished。 They brought fire。 The shavings on top of the pyre were
lighted and then the wood caught fire and a brilliant light illumined the
cliff； the shingle and the foam of the waves as they broke on the beach。
It grew brighter from second to second； lighting up on the sea in the
distance the dancing crest of the waves。
The breeze from the ocean blew in gusts； increasing the heat of the flame
which flattened down； twisted； then shot up again； throwing out millions
of sparks。 They mounted with wild rapidity along the cliff and were lost
in the sky； mingling with the stars； increasing their number。 Some sea
birds who had awakened uttered their plaintive cry； and； describing long
curves； flew； with their white wings extended； through the gleam from the
funeral pyre and then disappeared in the night。
Before long the pile of wood was nothing but a mass of flame； not red but
yellow； a blinding yellow； a furnace lashed by the wind。 And； suddenly；
beneath a stronger gust； it tottered； partially crumbling as it leaned
towards the sea； and the corpse came to view； full length； blackened on
his couch of flame and burning with long blue flames：
The pile of wood having crumbled further on the right the corpse turned
over as a man does in bed。 They immediately covered him with fresh wood
and the fire started up again more furiously than ever。
The East Indians； seated in a semi…circle on the shingle； looked out with
sad； serious faces。 And the rest of us； as it was very cold； had drawn
nearer to the fire until the smoke and sparks came in our faces。 There
was no odor save that of burning pine and petroleum。
Hours passed； day began to break。 Toward five o'clock in the morning
nothing remained but a heap of ashes。 The relations gathered them up；
cast some of them to the winds； some in the sea； and kept some in a brass
vase that they had brought from India。 They then retired to their home
to give utterance to lamentations。
These young princes and their servants； by the employment of the most
inadequate appliances succeeded in carrying out the cremation of their
relation in the most perfect manner； with singular skill and remarkable
dignity。 Everything was done according to ritual； according to the rigid
ordinances of their religion。 Their dead one rests in peace。
The following morning at daybreak there was an indescribable commotion in
Etretat。 Some insisted that they had burned a man alive； others that
they were trying to hide a crime； some that the mayor would be put in
jail； others that the Indian prince had succumbed to an attack of
cholera。
The men were amazed； the women indignant。 A crowd of people spent the
day on the site of the funeral pile； looking for fragments of bone in the
shingle that was still warm。 They found enough bones to reconstruct ten
skeletons； for the farmers on shore frequently throw their dead sheep
into the sea。 The finders carefully placed these various fragments in
their pocketbooks。 But