Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 8.djvu/141

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BADAGA MEN.—BADAGA WOMEN.

chants the dirge, enumerating sins; the rest join in the chorus, after each enumeration, "It is a sin." A buffalo calf, pure from blemish, has been brought tip to the corpse, and as every enumeration is finished, the chanter lays his hand upon the calf; and "in solemn silence the calf is let loose." Like the Jewish scape-goat, it may never be used for secular work. It is sacred, bearing till death the sins of a human being. We may perhaps be allowed to quote a stanza or two from this remarkable chant. Mr. Gover assures us it is almost a literal translation, from a version taken down by the Rev. F. Metz, of the Basil Mission.

The dead has sinned a thousand times,
E’en all the thirteen hundred sins
That can be done by mortal men,
That stain the soul that sped to—day
Stay not their flight to God’s pure feet.
Chorus.—Stay not their flight to God’s pure feet.

Then follows the enumeration of sins, and it thus concludes:—

The chamber dark of death
Shall open to his soul;
The sea shall rise in waves,
Surround on every side;
But yet that awful bridge,
No thicker than a thread,
Shall stand both firm and strong.
The dragon’s yawning mouth
Is shut—it brings no fear.
The palaces of Heaven
Throw open wide their doors.
Chorus.—Throw open wide their doors.

The thorny path is steep,
Yet shall his soul go safe.
The silver pillar stands
So near, he touches it;
He may approach the wall,
The golden wall of Heaven:
The burning pillar’s flame
Shall have no heat for him.
Chorus.—Shall have no heat for him.

Oh, let us never doubt
That all his sins are gone!
That Bussava forgives,
May it be well with him.
Chorus.—May it be well with him.

Let all be well with him.
Chouus.—Lot all be well with him.