Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-23

naue IT'S All UliS INTERVAL III SuS-
pense returned To the Suffice. She seemed
extremely anxious that the sacrifice Of which
she was TO he the victim, should he performed
Immediately. She complained Of the tedi-
ous delay that had taken place, saying IL
have been here since morning, il is now
z" Beegul Bellah" tpast mid day) and still all
snot ready. How long do you mean to keep
me from Joining my husband. Will you de-
lay all day q: let it be done immediately
Shortly after the Darosah came and put to
her the usual questions Whether she sacri.
feed herself of her own free will and if no
thing had been administered to intoxicate
her Having answered all these questions
satisfactorily, the tons-toms struck up, and;
she was led in triumph towards the pile, con-
Quoted and supported by her mother, daugh-
ter, and several other near relations. When
she arrived at the fatal spot, she presented
herself at the feet Of her. deceased husband
who was already placed upon it. But before
her arrival there, her daughter appeared and
after changing her dress made a mixture Of
rice, ghee, sc. and placed handful of it at
the mouth of the deceased. Some Of the
womans relations now gave her also hand
full of rice, pawn, &c. which she put into her
mouth and seemed To eat it with the greatest
composure but others imagined she only
chewed the pawn and spit il out, AS several Of
portion Of it after mastication. One Of those
baskets formed in the shape of a crown, used
by the Natives, filled with cowries, jal-pan,
&c. WAS then placed in her hand, and by heI
father, the only person who indicated any
touch of feeling. embraced her affectionately.
They then conducted her round the pile, sup
ported by her relations, the crowd pushing
and dragging her about in a tumultuous man
ner, as all were scranbling to get some of the
presents (cowries, jewels or other trnkets, &c
which she kept distributing from the basket
as she proceeded round. At this time as
was standing near the Suffice, shs recognized
me from the conversation had previously
had with her, and stretched out her arm SIEVE
raj times to put some token into my hand !;
but the persons around her continually pulling
her about prevented the accomplishment of
her purpose Having made the circuit Of the
pile once, she halted again at the feet of the
corpse, where was standing. One of her
relations who was mounted on the top Of the
pile, gave her his hand and assisted her i'm as
cending it. Her father also got mp and again
embraced and kissed her for the last time. A
small looking glass being handed TO her, az
ter viewing herselfin tia few seconds, she
placed it at the head Of her husband, aud
then taking some spicery ground down to a
fine powder, she sprinkIed il upon her head
and neck, and also over those of her husband.
She thrn laid herself gently down, of her own
accord, by the corpse which lay faced towards
her, and embraced il one Of the relations
putting the dead mans right hand over her
neck.
The preparations then proceeded. They
FIRST spread piece Of coarse cloth (baftah) O.
I yer the two bodies, and above this were piac-
ed large quantity of reeds (such az already
mentioned y then about six maubds of fire
hat, III. G..I u
her strength would have been insufficient to
move the weight that rested upon her. But
they took still further precautions against such
an accident for two long green hamboOs
were placed one over her neck, and the 9th err
over her feet ;one end of them being fixed to
stake driven into the ground, and The other
end projecting great way beyond the bO-
dies, so that if necessary, they might have
been used as levers TO keep down the unfortu-
nate woman, had she made any attempt at
motion. Reeds, tow and dry who'd were al
so strewed all round the pile, sprnkIed with
ghee and resin. All being now in readiness,
stood at the foot and friend of mine placed
himself at the head, in order to listen atten-
lively and observe if the self devoted victim
showed any symptom Of reluctance to her fate
ny utterins any complaint, or making an eff.
fort to extricatc herself But the continual
noise rendered all idea of hearing any thing out
ofthe question the woman however must
have suffered severely from the weight of the
materials, as it WAS considerable time befo re
the pile was lit. Her daughter, THE same al.
ready mentioned) at last brought straw torch
and applied 1t to the pile nearly under the
head: 1t instantly flew up in blaze and inn
mediately the noise Of tom tums, the tremen-
dous shouts of" Hurree Bole Hurrec Bole -
set up by the surrounding multitude, were as
III hell gales kaG hpln onpnpA nj oil h..
flends had Joined in one shout Of Internal ioy
ut the perdltion Of new victim. AS the
Name ragged, the bye ytanders continued 10
feed 1t by throwing in ghee and other com
oustIbles, the tom-tOms kept sounding and
the multitude shouting with redoubled fury
and we were glad to dee from this Internal
scene, which perhaps less disgraceful To the
perpetrators urged on as they are by super
sutton and tyrant custom, than TO those who
from too refined and cold-hearted policy
give u then sanction and permission.
1 shall only add that the miserable victim,
showed no signs Of reluctance as far az we
could perceive but we had not an opuor,uni
ty, for when the dreadful momeat arrived at
which human nature recOils with horror, all
was enveloped in flame, noise, and confusion
MALTA, FEB. 81.
NY DeTr SIR: ] send you herewith the me.
lancholy details Of Il most affecting catas
rophe which occurred here late in the after
noon OF The 18th inst. 10 any one who IN.
visited the spot, it appears almost meredith,
how 80 many lives could have been lost with
IN period Ola quarter oran hour or twcDt,
minules--and IN place, too, where thcr,
was mote than one outlet hut the unhappy
Iact was, That, so far from the foremost en-
dr"yourins to restrain those behind, al wcr.
| eager to be the first TO recriyp tbp dnn,,;oo