The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-08-02
SINrGULAR CUSTOM :!
TIE Bu,uing of I.dian uomen -

SING ULhR CUSTOM /!
TIE Bnrning Of Ldian Homen!!
TO TIE EDITOR OF The ENQUIRER
SIR, b.
have lately visited Indos,an in Asia,
where mad IN opportunity of witnessing ,he
ceremony observed by the Gentuos. in burn
ing the women with the dead bodies IF their
husbands; and a!tho' this custom has been
mentioned ny some most respectable H,sto-
rams. 1T is nevertheless, dsts lie we'd by a
great many persons IN this quarter of lie
Globe. In narrating the fact to some o. my
ftiends, as 1t actually occurred; it seemed
to excite great deal of interest, and consi.
derabie establishment, IN SO much, that
have thought if the crude observations
have thrown together in my journal. were
worthy place inyour paper would make
an extrac, aud give tito u. Tor pnblcation
-lhe annexed transcript S at your service,
to use chat way, it you chuse.
Yours very resp ctiuily,
RICHD. PO.VALL
Son the 2Sth Dec. 1910. went to view
the heather rites OF sacrificing the living
with the dead, respectable ma i've mer-
chant aged about seventy years, died last
evening at ten O'Clock In the moment Of
expiring, he was taken from his bed. and
placed with his legs in the river Huogiy, "a
branch OF the Ganges) which the natives
worship Ills relations, each that was hear
him, took up a small portion. OF water with
the tip OF their fingers, and pu, it TO his
mouth-in this situation he consigned his
soul to eternity. After his DEATH he was ia
Ken back ~ the house & this mo ming at
orc ock, Carried without the precincts of the
CITY. IL be burned on the shore of the river.
The pile OH which he was Consumed,
was constructed III the following manner
A small excavation was made ia the earth,
and a log OF wood laid at each side of it
across these, were laid others of light, dry,
small wood. TO the height of two feet, over
this, was spread. layer Of dry reeds about
SIX inches thick and this smeared over
with gnee, Cor buttcr) over this was spread
covering of muslin and on that, they
laid the dead body lengthwse with the RI
yer, with his head TO the wind, which was
north east-By tn side OF the pile were dr..
ven la the earth, TWO stakes, to which were
ied long baWooOs, SO as to over reach the
funeral pile-His wife, aged about fifty years
was now brought in close pa anquin to tae
waters edge opposite the corpse OF her nus
band where She was SAL down She went
INTO the water, and prayed about fifteen mi
nutes she was hen clothed in scarlet, and
received some rice in the fold of her gar
ment, which she scattered on the ground. as
she proceeded from the waler,t to the corpse
she walked three times round the pile pray
&c. q OK some mud from the soles OF her nus
bands feet, and crossed herself in dffereD,
ways she then took two small lighted
lamps. and placed them on the pile which
were afterwards extlnguished, and then la id
herself, on the left side OF he dead body Of
her husband-W God was immedi ately ola
ced along side III her, and on this was SD cad
across her, mingled wood ard dry reeds, 10
the height OF about two feet more-rhe
bamboos were now put across this, aud the
ends held down by two men, 10 prevent
ny accident, from the CON ulsvc departure
OF her separating spirit Dry reeds were
placed under, and around the pile, and ros
IN thrown OIL them-Ihe torch was now ap
pied to windward, directly at her head x
IN an instant, the whole was in flame
Not sigh escaped, nor did one feature of
her coun,enance indicate dismAy-she me;
her voluntary fate with infexibie fortitutie.
and consigned her soul to heavea. with the
hfeless body OF her husband clasped in her
arms A..
:" None were suffered to approach her or
assist IN tnls superstitious baibarity, but the
relations OF the deceased, or some of tine
same religious cast. Tne pile was consun, ed
TO ashes-water was now carried from the
river by the relations, and thrown on the
ashes, till they were washed from the shore
into the river-No emotions o; sorrow were
seen 60 trouble the bosoms of the relations
until the flame was communicated to the
pile They then wept, Cryed aloud. ami
fell across each other on the e. ound.--rbey
were helped up again, and were soon com
posed-There was nothing any where to be
seen, like the silence of death ALI was noise,
dispatation, and disturbance. The intre
pid soul Of the wretched victim alone rose
magnahnous above the turmoiIs o life She
was silent and with eyes cast down on
the ground, modcsty accomplished the pre-
limInaries OF her destruction"
WHO'S The DUPEf
The following STRUCTURES which appeared
in the Aurora Of the Goth ult viii need but
fe " remarks
No man who values his own character
or the public opinion, or the esteem of his
personal friends, or the happiness of these
to whom nature has allied him, can be in
difere nj to charges which 90 to impeach
his moral character, or to lessen him IN the
estimation OF those whose esteem is parti-
cularly dear TO him. The Richmond I'm
gaircr, overlooking considerations of this
KIND, assailed the reputation Of MIR. Smith
aud tkP aSsault e me m a shane So irsiifo,s