HINDOO BURIAL SERVICE.
During the funeral ceremony, in some parts of Hindostan, the Brahmins address the respective elements in words to the following purport:—
"O Earth! to thee we commend our brother; of thee he was formed, by thee he was sustained, and unto thee he now returns!
"O Fire! thou hadst a claim in our brother during his life; he subsisted by thy influence in nature, to thee we commit his body, thou emblem of purity, may his spirit be purified on entering a new state of existence!
"O Air! while the breath of life continued, our brother respired by thee; his last breath is now departed, to thee we yield him!
"O Water! thou didst contribute to the life of our brother, thou wert one of his sustaining elements. His remains are now dispersed, receive thy share of him, who has now taken an everlasting flight." SWAINE.