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as he needed the water for his lemon trees。
The two bodies were found； however； but not until the next day。
You see； my dear friend； that this is a simple news item。 But if you had
seen the hole itself your heart would have been wrung； as mine was； at
the thought of the agony of that child hanging to his brother's hands； of
the long suspense of those little chaps who were accustomed only to laugh
and to play； and at the simple incident of the giving of the watch。
I said to myself： 〃May Fate preserve me from ever receiving a similar
relic！〃 I know of nothing more terrible than such a recollection
connected with a familiar object that one cannot dispose of。 Only think
of it； each time that he handles this sacred watch the survivor will
picture once more the horrible scene； the pool； the wall； the still
water； and the distracted face of his brother…alive； and yet as lost as
though he were already dead。 And all through his life； at any moment；
the vision will be there； awakened the instant even the tip of his finger
touches his watch pocket。
And I was sad until evening。 I left the spot and kept on climbing；
leaving the region of orange trees for the region of olive trees； and the
region of olive trees for the region of pines； then I came to a valley of
stones； and finally reached the ruins of an ancient castle； built； they
say； in the tenth century by a Saracen chief； a good man； who was
baptized a Christian through love for a young girl。 Everywhere around me
were mountains； and before me the sea； the sea with an almost
imperceptible patch on it： Corsica； or； rather； the shadow of Corsica。
But on the mountain summits； blood…red in the glow of the sunset； in the
boundless sky and on the sea； in all this superb landscape that I had
come here to admire I saw only two poor children； one lying prone on the
edge of a hole filled with black water； the other submerged to his neck；
their hands intertwined； weeping opposite each other； in despair。
And it seemed as though I continually heard a weak； exhausted voice
saying： 〃Good…by； little brother； I am going to give you my watch。〃
This letter may seem rather melancholy； dear friend。 I will try to be
more cheerful some other day。
A CREMATION
Last Monday an Indian prince died at Etretat； Bapu Sahib Khanderao
Ghatay； a relation of His Highness； the Maharajah Gaikwar； prince of
Baroda； in the province of Guzerat； Presidency of Bombay。
For about three weeks there had been seen walking in the streets about
ten young East Indians； small； lithe； with dark skins； dressed all in
gray and wearing on their heads caps such as English grooms wear。 They
were men of high rank who had come to Europe to study the military
institutions of the principal Western nations。 The little band consisted
of three princes； a nobleman； an interpreter and three servants。
The head of the commission had just died； an old man of forty…two and
father…in…law of Sampatro Kashivao Gaikwar； brother of His Highness； the
Gaikwar of Baroda。
The son…in…law accompanied his father…in…law。
The other East Indians were called Ganpatrao Shravanrao Gaikwar； cousin
of His Highness Khasherao Gadhav； Vasudev Madhav Samarth； interpreter and
secretary； the slaves： Ramchandra Bajaji； Ganu bin Pukiram Kokate；
Rhambhaji bin Fabji。
On leaving his native land the one who died recently was overcome with
terrible grief； and feeling convinced that he would never return he
wished to give up the journey； but he had to obey the wishes of his noble
relative； the Prince of Baroda； and he set out。
They came to spend the latter part of the summer at Etretat； and people
would go out of curiosity every morning to see them taking their bath at
the Etablissment des Roches…Blanches。
Five or six days ago Bapu Sahib Khanderao Ghatay was taken with pains in
his gums； then the inflammation spread to the throat and became
ulceration。 Gangrene set in and； on Monday； the doctors told his young
friends that their relative was dying。 The final struggle was already
beginning； and the breath had almost left the unfortunate man's body when
his friends seized him； snatched him from his bed and laid him on the
stone floor of the room； so that； stretched out on the earth； our mother；
he should yield up his soul； according to the command of Brahma。
They then sent to ask the mayor； M。 Boissaye； for a permit to burn the
body that very day so as to fulfill the prescribed ceremonial of the
Hindoo religion。 The mayor hesitated； telegraphed to the prefecture to
demand instructions； at the same time sending word that a failure to
reply would be considered by him tantamount to a consent。 As he had
received no reply at 9 o'clock that evening； he decided； in view of the
infectious character of the disease of which the East Indian had died；
that the cremation of the body should take place that very night； beneath
the cliff； on the beach； at ebb tide。
The mayor is being criticized now for this decision； though he acted as
an intelligent； liberal and determined man； and was upheld and advised by
the three physicians who had watched the case and reported the death。
They were dancing at the Casino that evening。 It was an early autumn
evening； rather chilly。 A pretty strong wind was blowing from the ocean；
although as yet there was no sea on； and swift； light； ragged clouds were
driving across the sky。 They came from the edge of the horizon； looking
dark against the background of the sky； but as they approached the moon
they grew whiter and passed hurriedly across her face； veiling it for a
few seconds without completely hiding it。
The tall；； straight cliffs that inclose the rounded beach of Etretat and
terminate in two celebrated arches； called 〃the Gates；〃 lay in shadow；
and made two great black patches in the softly lighted landscape。
It had rained all day。
The Casino orchestra was playing waltzes； polkas and quadrilles。 A rumor
was presently circulated among the groups of dancers。 It was said that
an East Indian prince had just died at the Hotel des Bains and that the
ministry had been approached for permission to burn the body。 No one
believed it； or at least no one supposed that such a thing could occur so
foreign was the custom as yet to our customs； and as the night was far
advanced every one went home。
At midnight； the lamplighter； running from street to street；
extinguished； one after another； the yellow jets of flame that lighted up
the sleeping houses； the mud and the puddles of water。 We waited；
watching for the hour when the little town should be quiet and deserted。
Ever since noon a carpenter had been cutting up wood and asking himself
with amazement what was going to be done with all these planks sawn up
into little bits； and why one should destroy so much good merchandise。
This wood was piled up in a cart which went along through side streets as
far as the beach； without arousing the suspicion of belated persons who
might meet it。 It went along on the shingle at the foot of the cliff；
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 shingl