The stokers did not sit down in idleness, but moved briskly about, punching up the fires with long poles, and now and then adding fuel.

Sometimes they hoisted the half of a skeleton into the air, then slammed it down and beat it with the pole, breaking it up so that it would burn better.

They hoisted skulls up in the same way and banged and battered them.

The sight was hard to bear; it would have been harder if the mourners had stayed to witness it.

I had but a moderate desire to see a cremation, so it was soon satisfied.