The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-11-06 00:00:00

INDIA.

GOVERNMENT ORDER ORDER RESPECTING SUTTEES.
Presidency of Fort William, February 1R22.

The Commander of the Forces desires bit a copy of tbe►e
instructions be circulated from the Brigade-office to the
posts aid Mathias dependant upon your command.
(Bigoted) G. H. FAGAN, Arljolamt-General.

a Whereas it has appeared that during the ceremony de-
acimiaated Suttee (at which Hindoo women burn them-
selves), certain acts ►are been occasionally commit-
ted, i■ direct opposition to the rules laid down t■ the
religious institutes of the Hoodoos, by which that practice
is authorised and forbidden is particular eases, a■ for in.
stance, at several Islam pregnant women, sod girls not yet
arrived at their fall age, have bees born( alive ; sod people,
tarter having intoxicated smiles, by admisisteriag intoxicat-
ing substances, have burnt them, without their assent, while
insensible; and inasmuc► as this coedit( is contrary to the
Masters, and perfectly inconsistent with every principle of
humanity (it appearing from thee:positions of the Maim
law, delivered by Poodits, that the horsing a woman preg-
sant, or woe having • child of tender sears, or a girl nut yet
arrived at fall age, is expressly forbidden in the Masters.
and esti that the intoxicating a woman for the purpose of
burning her, and the barging one without her assent, or
against her will, is highly illegal, and contrary to esta-
blished usage), the Police Darogalts are hereby accordingly,
under the moctiou of Guamanian. strictly enjoined to
use the utmost care, and make every effort to premise
the tiebiddeo practices above mentioned from t.►ing
place whhtn the limits of their Thannabs ; and they ate
further required, os all occasions, immediately tin receiving
intelligeoce that this cernaurity is likely to occur, eit►er
themselves to proceed to the spot, or mad their Moltirrur or
Jemedar, accompanied by a Burkondas of the Hindoo reli-
gion, to learn of the woman who is to be burnt, whether she
has given her asseut, sod ascertain the other parlieolma
above mentioned relative to her age, &e. eke. In the event
of the female who is going to be burnt being less thus six-
teen years of age, o► there twist( signs of her psegnaocy, or
on her declaring herself in that situation; or should the pro.
plc be preparing to burn her, after having intoxicated her,
without her amnia, or against her will (the horsing a woman
under any of these cireumatsoces being in direct opposition
to what is enjoined isi the Shasiesr, mod manifestly as act of
illegal violence), It will be then their duty to present the
ceremony, ohm forbidden, and (smarmy to establisled usage,
(ions takiag place, and require those• inquired to perform
it to refrain from so doing; also to explain to them that. i■
the event of their persisting to MINIM as act forbidden, they
would involve themselves to a crime, nod become sulskt to
retribution and punishment; hub is the case of the womb,,
being of full age, nod no other impedimeut existing, t►ey
will neveithelese remain on the spot, and nut allow the most
minute particular to escape observation ; and to the case of
people preparing to burn a woman by compslnon, or after
having made ►er imetisilile, by adatioiatetiog spirituous
liquors, or narcotic drugs, it will be Sign their duty to earl t
themselves in restraining them; and al the same time to let
them knew that it is nut the micelle's of the Guvernwieut to
check or forbid any set matinee Med by the teams of the reli.
Rion of the inhabitants of their dominions, or even to re_
quire soy express leave or permission being required rt..
moonily to the performance of the act of Suttee; and the
police officers are out to loterfete and prevent any guide set
from taking plum.; and, lastly, it sill be their dirty to
transmit immediately, for the iNformation of the Illogiatrster,
• fall detail of any tese mom ob:ch they may-hose adapted
on tins subject; and also tot every °comm., sista wit►*