Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-30
FROM CALCUTTA PAPERS,
Received at Salem.
IL
Calcutta. Dec. Is.
sUTTEE AT sULKEAH.

sUTTEE AT sULKEAH.
Suttees, so often and SO justly deprecated
by every, Christian spectator as disgraceful
to India, are still unfortunately of no uncom-
mon occurrence.
A rite of this kind, which took place at
Sulkeab 'ast Thursday, in the person of
young Hindoo female, inundated on the
same pile with her deceased husband, need
only to have been witnessed. not merely to
arouse heart-rending sympathies, but most
unequivocally to eyemplify case Of the
cruellsst murder. was informed that the
deceased had fallen victim to cholera some
time during the preceding night, and his in
fatuated widow, determining to become a
Suffice, the corpse had been brought some
miles from the interior, to mix in ashes with
its living partner, by the rivers side. Their
first care on arrival, about nine O'Clock in
the morning, was to take measures to pro-
cure legal authority for this pious sacrifice,
and as some delay occurred in consequence
an opportunity was offered to several Eu.
ropean Gentlemen who were attracted to
the spot, to endeavor, ifpossible, 10 prevail
on her to relinquish her rash design; but
her mind appeared already so fortified with
religious bigotry, so bewildered and occu-
pied with the phahtoms OF terrified and
disordered Imagination, that no persuasion
could prevail, because none, however for
chile, could be understood. The jarring
emotions of her soul had created such de-
gree of frenzy or madness that she already
seemed 10 belong TO another world. Yet
when gentleman present observed to her
that, in giving her life 10 be destroyed, she
was not only acting contrary to the will Of
God, but also doing an injury to society by
leaving her child unprotected, she evnced
the most poignant anguish that can possibly
be conceived. With look Of wild and pi.
table distraction she said, speak not of my
cbild-Why do you wound my bosomwitb
the idea" Then relapsing into supersti.
tious rawlings, she added, "But that child
no longer belongs 10 me- am not its mo.
Their, or wherefore did | suffer death four
times before at this age; shall not COM
plete my Immortality; and know that |
am doomed to sremination twice again after
regeneration" powerful is bigotry over
the noblest affections of nature
Amidst this scene of sorrow and misery,
it may not be amiss to glance for a moment
at the behavior of the surrounding mob -
Here nothing but merriment, laughter, noise
and obscenity abounded in all directions
Not man or woman amongst them seemed
70 have heart to pity, or understanding to
Judge. One sally of v it set the whole au-
dience laughing for half an hour, and gave
| occasion to many more good jokes. Come
on" cried wag, ''ye women of SulAeah,
as many as are fond of fire and husbands,
now is your time to hug and burn"-ano-
Their. on the importantly Of the unfortunate
wretch who was the subject of their merri'
ment, 10 be put out OF misery as quickly as
possible, taun'ingly replied, Don't be SO
impatient, my dear, you will be among the
faggots soon enough" Indeed. so far from
any religious solenuity being attached to
the occasion, no levity, confusion and indie
cency could have been greater than were
exhibited in the conduct of both Hindoo and
Mussulmen spectators.
At length, about o'clock, it was announ-.
ced that the sanction of the magistrate had
arrived. The writer of this article now "a
gain approached the devotee, and endea-
vored, by exciting love of life, to induce
her to renounce her intention. He told Der,
that if she had any lear Of future poverty
or distress all the gent 'emen present pledg-
ed themselves to provide comfortably for
her, and that they would Immediately give
her 100 Rs. | had noticed with some hope
the gradual decay OF her resolution as time
elapsed, and was sanguine in believing,
she might be recovered. Still, to the very
edge of the pile, she was deaf to all entrea-
~. Her last words, however, betrayed much