Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-09-07
From the Missionary Reg lister.

! From the Missionary Reg lister.
i .9nofher ,con.an Burnt .4iive The fol
flowing narrative is given by Mr.. John
Peter, an Armenian, who acts as Mis-.
sionary at Ba'asore in connection with thu
Baptist Society. 1t is extracted from {
letter Of his, dated Balasore, September {
1874.
| A horrible thing was done in this town
a few days ago. Ochob neighbor of mine
died aged 60 or 20 years, having four OF
!; FIVE married sons, several daughters, and
also grand children. He used to work
for me and | had many times been at his
shop, and spoke there the words ofeternaI
life to his sons, aud others, as well as to
him, often at his house and my own. His
answer was always favorable. He ac-
knowledsed me to be true preacher of
the wordeof God, and was very religious
in his own hathenism.
About eight month age he came to me
and asked for one of our books, wishing
to read il at it bis own house. was We
ry glad to give him an Orissa New les
lament, which he continued reading or
hearing.
About a month ago he iell sick ; and
on Saturday last, as 1 was returning from
preaching to large congregation at Moo
itigunj, one OF his sons returned the Orissa
Testament and. yesterday morning, l
heard the man was dead, and that his
wife, aged 4j or so years, was going to
die with her beloved husbands boty, in
the burning fame. l was very sorry !:
had known of his sickness before the
book was returned t, me, | would Ger
tainly have endeavored to approach mis-
death bed with the news of salvation, A.
las !. | cannot help it; the soul is gone.
| sent word to his SONS, that wished
to speak to their mother but they refus-
ed my entrance into their house, aud de-
sired ne,if wished to speak to her, to
igo to the place OF burning, which was on
the high road, a little distance from the
town. I watched the opportunity and a,
bout 4 O'Clock In the afternoon, | was
Informed that the miserable nenlan had
teen let out from her house, the corps OF
her husband having been carried little
before to place under the shade Of a large
tree. Hearing this, vent thither, Find
ling her in the niidst of a la &c crowd and!
surrounded with great noise, and band!
OF music, l knew not how to get to her,
but some of the crowd Immediately help
ed me. Ijoined my hands and implored|
the musicians to let me pass to her flvei
minutes, that | might speak TO her,
| said Z" | am very sorry For her." !
Upon this the crowd (near one thou
sa d mcn) gave me room to approach,t
and all the musicians stopped their mu-
ic. AS soon as | got before her, ]
Saw about twenty women surroundlngl
ihea. and she in the most fantastic dress
Almost her whole body was COZ cred with
garlands. She had on large cap of flow
|crs and her forehead covered with red
!paint.-She had cocoa nut in her hand !,
out remained silent to what the others
were saying to her. AS soon as | ap.I
preached her, opened the Orissa tesla !
lnent. and from the 10th chapter of Acts.
and the 25tIr verse, cried out, do thy-|
self no harm this is sin against GOO
and is objectionable. am servant oil
God, and | love your soul. ! am come
to tell thee from the mouth of God, Dot
|thyseif no harm, She only shock hel
head, but seemed not to believe me
Afterwards she said, " no. no. when |
was dissuading her from going to the
FIRE.
The crowd did not like me to be near
Asr ans longer. However, | entreatedI
her to speak to me; which she did, butl
it was through her nose so that l was
not able to understand her. She gave
me two flowers told her did not want
flowers, but her life. She shook her head
Then | again said, Z" do thyselfno harm.
1t you don't, am free from your blood y
She, and the crowd then praceeded to the
place of death.
I am sorry was not able to do her a Il
~ good !; followed, warning her aud
the crowd against the horrible crime
with the New Testament in my hand.
She bathed in a tanh and then, being
finest unable to walk several persons
Geld her shoulders and arms, and took her
to the spot. The flames were ready to
receive her. The crowd was now about,
four Thousand men. Three gentemenl
we're on elephants very near to the
flames. She went around the fire and
threw some milk over the burning corps
I hree or four men were at her back, to
shove her into the fire, but she fell on the .