The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1791-04-23 00:00:00, page 2

This don% Iha left her children and
advanced towards th 3 funeral pile, which
wasfurroj Ijed by avast concourse of peo
ple, cuedy Bramins, about eight or ten
feet from it, so that tiere was a free pas
sage round the pile. Mr. (hakrfpeare and
I were in front of the circle, and I had
a perfed view of the following scene.
cAs soon as the appeared in the circle,
I thought (he was somewhat confafed;
but whether from the fight of her husband
lyjng dead on the pile, or the great
crowd of people assembled, or at feeing
Europeans icioag them, for there were
two besides Mr. Shakespeare and myfelf,
I cannot tell ; however, (he recovered
herfelf almost inffaataneoufly. She then
walked, unattended, gently round the
pile in filerice ; Brewing Covers as (he
went round ; and when (he had nearly
completed the third time, at Gocul, s feet
she got upon the pile without affifiaa-e,
strewed flowers over it and then laid.her
felf do^n on the left fide of her hatband,
railing his head, and putting her right
arm under his neck ; arid turning her
body to his,threw her left arm over him;
and one of the Bramins railed his right
leg, put it over her legs without a (ingle ;
word being uttered. They being thus ;
elofely embraced, a (hawl was laid over ;
ttcm, and they were not seen afterwards
by any body. Some dry draw was laid
over the (hawk and then some light bil
lets of sandal wood were puton the draw:
but altogether not fufficient to prevent
her raising herfelf up, throwing all off,
and entirely extricating herfelf from the
pile, if (he had repented, or from feeling
the heat of the fire or smoke, (he had
been inclined to save her life.. The dry
straw which composed a part of the pile
was then lighted. During all this time;
that is, from the moment Gocul's wife
made her appearance in the circle, to
lighting rhe pile, there was a profound
silence. But on the pile being lighted,
the Bramins called out aloud, some danc
ing and brandishing cudgels of flicks,
which I took to be praying, and a part
of the ceremony, perhaps to prevent her
cries being heard by the multitude, so as
to givethem a bad impression of it, or
deter other women from following what
the Hindoos term a laudable example.
But notwithstanding the noise made by
the Bramins, and those who danced round
it, I Should have heard any cries or la
mentations (he might have made ; I am
convinced She made none, and that the
smoke muff have fuffocated her in a very
Short space of time. I Raid about ten mi
nutes as er the pile was lighted, for such
a fi^ht was too dreadful to remain long
at ; besides nothing more was to be seen
except the flames, which Mr. Shake
speare aid I had a perfect view of at a
distance, as we returned from the funeral
pile..
Gocul's wife was a tall, well made,
good looking woman, fairer than the ge
nerality of Hindoo women are, about
twenty, perhaps twenty-two years of age
zt most; (he was decently dressed in a
white cloth round her waist, and an Oor
ney of White cloh with a red silk border
loosely over her head and Shoulders ; but
her face, arms and feet were bare I
have heard and indeed supposed, that Wo
men in that Situation intoxicate them
selves with bang or toddy ; but from the
relation given me of what passed be
tween Gocul's wifey children & brother
in law, as well as what Mr. Shakespeare
and myfelf saw at the funeral pile, I am
fore (he was as free from intoxication du
ring the whole ceremony as possible ; for
fie was perfectly composed, and not in
the least flurried,except at firft for an
indan: of time, as before observed ; but
went through it deliberately, with afto
nilhing fortitude and resolution.
This barbarous cuftom,fo (hocking toEu.
ropeans,if I mistake not, was practiced by
our ancestors in Britain in the times of
the Druids ; but whether our country
women in those days, who did not facri
fice themselves, were treated with the
fame contempt after the death of their
.halbards, as the Hindoo women are, I
know' not ; for by the religion of the
Hindoos they never can marry again, or
have commerce with another man, with
out prejudice to their casts, which to them
is as dear as life itfelf; but generally are
reduced to perform the moss menial of
fices in the family of which they were be
fore the miftreG.
This refledion, together with the great
credit they gain amongff the Bramins in
undergoing fa painful and horrid a reli
gious ceremony, may be a very strong
inducement to their continuing this prac
tice'
The Moorish government in these pro
vinces have frequently prevented such
Sacrifices, which T have heard is very ea.
fily done; for that an, person not a Hin
doo, or even a Hindoo of an inferiour cast
to the vidian, barely touching the woman
during the ceremony will have that ef
fea. Job Channock who obtained the
firft phirmaund from the King at Delhi
for the English company, Lam told, and
I dare fay von have heard it too, saved a
woman from burning by touching her
whilst (he was going through the ceremo
ny, and was as erwards married to her.
Mr. Verehc was the means of saving the
life of Gocul's mother, wh> intended to
burn herfelf with her husband, and (he is
now living ; but Gocul's wife was so re
solute, (hi declared last Wediefday morn
ing, that if, fie was not allowed to burn
with her hihiad, (he would, find means
to put an end to her life in the course of
that or the next day. As a proo r of her
composure and being in her perfect fenc
es immediately on receiving news of Gl
- death, (he revived to facrifice ner
,felf, and took ari inventory of all th,jew
els and effeQs the was in poriVTion of.
I have now given you a full and cir
cumftamial relation of the whole natter
refpeering Gocal Gofiul's wife facrificing
herfelf on the funeral pile of her huthind.
Such parts of it as were told me, of what
was done out of my light, I hdve no rea
son to doubt ; and ^hat 1 have wri ten a>
seen by myfelf, you may depend on as
literally true, which Mr. Shakespeare
will confirm in every part. : But I omit
ted to observe, that though the Bramins
shed tears when praying by Gocul the
night previous to his death, there did
not appear the lead concern id any of
them during the ceremony at the funeral
pile, not. even in Kiftenchurn, the elder
brother of Gocul, or any of his depend
ents.
.I am told that Gocul's other wife,.na
med Rajeferry, would also have facrificed
hetfelf at the fame tme, if (he was not
with child ; and that if (he has preferred
a lock of his hair, it is confident with the
Hindoo laws or customs for her to go
through the fame ceremony by burning
herfelf with th^t lock of hair ori another
pile whenever (he thinks proper. Gocal
had four children by the last mentioned
wife ; one girl 10 years, one girl 6. years,
one boy 7 years, and another boy five
yeas of age.
I am, dear Sir, your most
obedient humble servant,
. JOSEPH CATOR.
To Thomas Pearson, Esq.
Any other time will do aS Well.
YES yes: but are you sure that any
other time will arrive ? or ifit should,
are you certain you can attend to it? If
I hear a mat or a woman fay frequently,
any other time will do as quell, I (et them
down on my lift, the one as flack, Jlo venly
—the other a carelfsflip food huffy#
The PROMPTER.—No. If.
Call on such a man to fettle his ac
counts--" O, I can't attend to it now,"
fays the man, " If will do as well any
other time." Call again ;OI am bafy—
it will do as well to-morrow, or any other
time, . Call a third and a fourth time ;
but he is never ready. , The account
fiend's unsettled—it increases from year
to year—at length; death, that sturdy ty
rant trips up his heels—and lays him flat
on his back—his accounts unsettled —his
adminiftr^tor has work enough upon his
brands—for a map who. will fettle his ac
counts at any other time, will generally
make his charges in that way-rhe does
not set down every article at the time of
purchase or sale—he trufts_to memory —
he can remember the article and price and
charge it at any other time —he forgets—
makes mistakes —his books are irregular
ly kept —they are disputed—his adminis
trator has no proof but the books —and
other people are alive to swear ;o their
accounts or produce other evidence. —
Then begin lawsuits—and when law
opens the door of litigation, poverty fol
lows up close and enters with it. Juries
and arbitrators decide these disputes upon
vague and uncertain evidence—and some
body fuffer< the loss. So much for this
any other time.
But suppose a man lives' long, as the
worst men generally live the longeft—
why he plagues every one that has any
dealings with him—yes, and is eternally
haunted himfelf.
The Prompter has heard it said, that,
take care of the farthings, the pounds will
From the Connecticut Courant.
miscellany.
tab care of tbemfelves. Now a word upon
this, if you please. Tak: special care of
little foiling accounts —they are like the
old serpent, who deceived Eve, Jl,, in
finaati^g, tempting things. '' Ho# much
does it colt ?" is the qaeftion whenever
an article is to be purchased. A /billing
is the answer. O, then get it by all
means: A tolling is a.trifle. ft is so ;
hat " sand: forn the mountain." Look to
that, 1 fay. The whole evi! is, that this
/billing is a trifle. A dollar! that is no
trifle—l can't afford a dollar. Very well
—a dollar confits only of the final! num
ber of fix (hillings, and fix of these little
trifles, these Lilliputian (hillings are gone
=a dollar, that gigantic part of a man's
estate, is gone.
Now then in order to Saib the tempta
tions of (pending (hillings —fettle your
a^roun's often— once a vezr at leaf —for
otherwise-they vill swell into an unman
ageable size. Suppose four neighbours
take a newsfpaper, in parenerfhio. This
makes the expence a trifle. Very good—
this is laudable—it i, economical. But
,The French clergy are taking the new
oaths very, kindly. They made wry
faces at firft, because the portion was
bitter, but they take it readily now they
are told it will do them good !
The fear of a counter-revolution inf
France, seems after, all, to have arifeq
from the King's two Aunts having a de
sign to. travel, Jt is rather odd, that A
city guarded by'more than 100,000 armed
men, should have been afraid of two old
women! f
The burning of aftoats still goes on
in Paris. The French fay, they decrease
their debts almoll as fall as we encreafe
oirs.
fdppofe yda do not par this trifle. How
are the printers an 1 pottriders and piner
makers to live? Look ye, my friends;
Conhedicut river is a large river -but
this riv/r is made up of little springs,
thitwill run through a gimblet hole.
When you walk about your fields, or tra
verie the *oods : you step over little
brooks, and little gurgling rills, and
never think that you are flapping over
Connecticut river. But remember, if
all these little rills dry up, Connecticut
river is gone. Just so it is with Printers,
with Merchants, and with the State Trea
sury. Every Shilling is a little rill—a
final! stream that runs into the poftriders
pocket or the collegers purse—a number
of thele little streams thus united, makes
a large ftrcam, •Farmington and Chik
abee,river —fhcfe dreams empty into the
printing-office or treasury, where they form
Connecticut river and keep the business
going on. Now follow nature—little rills
run perpetually. They warmer too, but
they run, or the river dries up —They
never flop and fay, any other time will do
as quell. ,-...
THE men on board of the fleet are very
mutinous, wanting to he paid off. They
were particularly so on board the Prin
cejs, Royal and Tiaory; in thelaft named,
they secured the magazine and hatchway,
knocked down one of the Lieutenants,
and committed every outrage, except
firing ; however, by the marines anting
with the officers, the men returned to
their duty.
The accounts agree in confirming the
immense carnage that has been made of
the Turks, by the Ruffians, on the reduc
tion of the fortrefs of Ifmail by storm. A
panick, it is said, and not improperly^ has
been struck into the Ottomans. If this
panick continues and spreads, their num
bers will not avail to oppose, or even
greatly retard the progress of the Ruffians
to the diminution of Greece, and all
Turkey in Europe. Something, there
fore must be done, and with fpeed,bv other
European powers, for the proteaion of
the Sultan.— And it is this situation of
affairs in the East, that, in all probabil
ity, is at the bottom of the caccurage-
BISHOPS hitherto ele&ed, and to be
elected in the present year, are ex
onerated from the obligation of receiving
Canonical or Metropolitan Confirmation.
This is striking off the very head of the
Hierarchy. The diredion of the Depart
ments confirm- . ,when the Civic Oath has
been taken, —Thus is the chief authority
over clerical concerns consigned to the
hands of the subordinates of the law, and
the intimate connexion links the mem
bers of this venerable body broken
affunder forever.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY of FRANCE.
Foreign Intelligence.
London, jan. 6.
" LAY not up for yourfelf, treasures
upon earth, where moth and rust do
corrupt, and where thieves do break
through and Real ; but la, up for your
felf treasures in Heaven, where neither
moth nor rift do corrupt, and where
thieves do not break through nor steal ;
for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also— There is a certain
one- whole labour is in wisdom, and
knowledge, and equity ; yet to a man
that hath not lab ured therein, (hall Jbe
leave it for his portion,—For all her days
are sorrow, and her travail grief, and her
heart taketh no ref in the night.
" There is nothing better for any one
than to eat, and to drink, and to enjoy
the fruits of their labour, for that is the
gift of God; uhatfoever thou findeft
in thine hand to do, faith the wife man,
do it with all thy might. ,
''Therefore take time, while TIME doth
"For time,fatime, will pafsaway.''
" I hope that these frivolous, and sud
den removeables, will put you in mind,
that you have here no continuing city,
and ftjr you up, to live so Holy, that
was God at any time to fay, this night:
shall thy foul be required of the. you
might wih pleasure fay,—Lo, I tome,—
Be content with such things as thou haft,
for he hath said, J will never leave thee,
nor forfake thee.—Bless them that curse
thee, and pray .for them that fpitefully
use you ; be thou therefore merciful as
thy .heavenly father also is merciful—
Fret not thyfelf: because of him who
profperetb in bjs way, because of the man
Who bringeth wicked' devices to pass-
Resolve not to be difeouraged in th,
chriflian course ; whatsoever it be that,
thou halt to do or fuffer— knowing that:
as we receive good at the hand of God,
we ought, in reason to receive evil.—
Not to render evil for evil, or railing for
railing, but contrary wife, and be not
terrified by any adversaries, nor afraid
of their threat's, but fanaify thou the
Loid in thy heart.—l hope these reflec
tions will fink deep in your heart,madam,
and do you mere service, than the drofi
and dung, that root of all evil, that my.
necessity has induced me to exchange for
this letter,——Adieu.”
On Thursday morning last is thought
to be the greeted, during its continuance,
of any that has happened in England
since 1703, which began 27th of Novem
ber in that year,and continued three whole
days, attended with rain, thunder and
lightning, to (he great terror of the in
habitants of this metropolis, as well as
the deftruebon of ieveral huufes, church
es, (hipping, &c. &c.
To this tremendous storm, Addition
beautifully alludes, in the well known
simile of the angel in Campaign—
Ar, account of a very extraordinary
theft committed at Glocefler in Englund,
many years ago. One John Nenring,
who lodged a: the boule of a Mrs. Mills,
an elderly gentlewoman, and rented a
bout £.12 per annum of Meadow-land;
broke open her box, ard dole money and
other valuables, to the amount of £4O,
and left the following letter of confola'ion.
—He was however, apprehended, tried
and executed, notwithstanding his wit:
ment that it gives to all able-bodied sea.
men to enter into the British service.
THE MISSISIPPI.
Jan. 17. Some gentlemen in America, •
are now forming themselves into a com
pany for the purpose of building three
vessels of force mounting from twenty to
forty 24 pounders, completely manned
and equipped; they purpose loading
with tobacco, flour, &c. and proceed
ing to sea by the Gulpb of Mexico, with
a fall determination to punifhfeverely
every insult, which in violation of trea
ties, may be offered to rhe American flag
falling down the MTrippi. ft is gene
rally supposed they will embark between
twelve ar fi teen hundred men, in order
to assert the American rights to the na
vigation of the Miffypi.
So 'when an angel by divine command—
(Wen rifag t^peflsJhake a guilty land.
Such as cf lare o'er pale Britannia past)
Calm and ferine be drives the furious hlaf.
And pleas'd th' Almighty's orders to per-
Rides in the whirlwind—and direßs the
" MADAM,
Storm.
form.
DECEMBER zB.
THE STORM