Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-24

would insure her against want as long
as she lived, " No she replied, Z" | want
nothing in this world what have to do
with l,ie ? my heart is there with my bus
band. But there, (she continued, point
ing to her daushter,) there is my daugh.
ter, give her what you have to bestow.''
Seeing my arguments were OF no avail
turned from her and went TO observe 'the
preparation of the pile. II was formed as
follows: First they dug pit about 3 feet
deep, S or 4 wide aud long, and staked
it along the two sides with soondry wood.
They then put two stout pieces of timber,
about 9 inches in diameter, upon the
mouth of the pit, leDg.hwise, and four or
Eve pieces oss..-This is the fountain OF
the pile, and secures free circulation of
air from below, in order to make it burn
briskly. Above these Gloss pieces of tins
Der they first placed quantity of broken
6rewood. then good thick layer of dry
reeds (such as grow in the salt lake, and
dry bamhoos. Over this they spread
kind of tow, which was saturated with
ghee and dammer kind of coarse resin)
and other combustble materials. Over
this again was placed another layer OF
frewood then another layer of reeds
and bamboos over which, lastly, they a.
gain spread layer OF tow filled with
combustble materials as before, and COW
cred the whole with piece OF coarse
cloth (bsftab) forming as il we're bed
for the dead and living body about 20 be
committed to the flames. The whole
thus consisted of6 layers-two Of iirewood,
two OF reeds ADD rotten bamboos, and two
OF tow and other inAamable materials,
and it rose nearly three feet above the
ground.
The pile was now all ready, but there
was still one cause of delay the Dsro-
gah bad not made his appearance, In
this interval of suspense | returned to the
Suffice. She seemed extremely anxious
that the sacrifice OF which she was to be
the victim, should be performed immedi.
ately. She complained of the tedious de-
lay that had taken place, saying have
been here since morning, it is now "Bee-
gul Beliah" (past mid day. and still all is
not ready. How long DO you mean to
keep me from joining my husband! Will
you delay all day /; let it be done imme-
diately" Shortly after the Darogah came
aud put to-ber the usual questions Wbe-
ther.she sacrificed herself of her own free
will; and if nothing had been admins.
tered 10 intoxicate her. Having answered
all these questions satisfactorily, the tom-
toms struck up, and she was led in triumph
towards the pile, conducted and support
ed by her mother, daughter 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 mixture
of rice, ghee, &c. and placed handful OF
il at the mouth Of the deceased. Some
of the woman's relations now gave her
also handful OF rice, pawn, &c. which
she put into her mouth and seemed to eat
it with the greatest composure ; dut 9TH
ers imagined she only chewed the pawn
and spit it out. as several OF the atten-
dants seemed anxious 10 obtain a portion
of it after mastication. Ono of those bas-
kets formed in The shape OF crown, used
BY the natives, filled with cowrles, jail
pan, &c was then placed in her hand, and
by Der father, the only person who indica-
ted any touch of feeling, embraced her
affec,ionately. They then conducted her
round the pile, supported by her relations,
the crowd pushing and dragging her a.
bout in tumuluous manner, as all were
scrambliDg to get some Of the presents
(cowries, jewels or other trinkets, &c.)
which she KEEP: distributing from the bas-
ket as she proceeded round
At this time as | was standing near the
Suffice, she recognized me from the con-
versation had previously had with her,
and stretched out her arm several TIRES 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