Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-04

their turn.
GAS we were nearing this curious
eolgotha, we beheld about 40 men ant
women, whom we recognized as form
ing a Parsee funeral procession
Amidst them was corpse, which We
afterwards found to be the body OF
young female, on cot, or low bed
that served for her bier; they all seemed
to be her near relations; and, instead
of the solemn decency which lhad be-
fore observed at such ceremonies, this
exhibited hurry and secresy: the hour
| was unusually early; the lamentations
were not loud; there was no beating Of
! the breast by the women; but, in long
| dresses, smeared with ashes and paint,
and with disheveIled hair streaming to
the morning breeze, they were utterlng
low groans and imprecations Tears
were flowing copiousfy down two oil the
women's cheeks, and we could hear
them lament that ever they had been
born, and utter wildly suppressed re-
ioicings. that she whom they bore a.
long was dead. When they arrived at
the receptacle, instead Of unlocking
the door, and placing the body on the
platform with tenderness, it was
thrown with apparent detestation,
from the parapet; and we heard the
echo of its fall with chill Of horror.
GAIL this naturally reused my Curl
osity; and through the instrumentality
of Hormongee and Monogee, TO the
latter of whom I promised my inter
est respecting the canteen, by way OF
bribe for divuIging the secrets OF his
sea, received the following parti-
culars, which, have every reason to
believe perfectly true, and in strict &C
cordance with Parsee usage.
"Limgee Dorabjee, respectable ira
der in Jewels, had daughter called
Yamma, whose beauty equalled the
lustre of the finest diamond. She APP
peared, among the virgins of her tribe
asa gem of Golconda amidst beads of
glass. Her parents saw in her, as in a
flaitering mirror, their fondest wishes.
They pearled her Jet black hair with
many costly transparent row; their
rubies in burning glow were pendant
from her delicate ears; their sapphires
from her graceful nose; while many a
far famed mine glittered on her bosom,
sparkled on her fingers and arms, and
shed its light on her toes and ankles.
Gold and silver gave splendor to her
dress; in short, in the imprisoned
phrase of Lord Byron, and perhaps with
less of poetical hyperbole-
SHE was a form Of life and light,
THAT seen became part OF sight
This charming Young Parsee, or Peri,
was about fourteen years old, all age a,
which the female figure at,ains the
sound perfection Of beautiful ripeness
in India. Indeed marriage takes place
at much earlier period of life; but in
Yamma's case, the young man TO whom
she was affianced mad been detained at
Surat nearly two years by important
commercial affairs, in which he was
deeply concerned; and the expensive
ceremony, of solemnization of wed!ock,
had been postponed from time TO time:
in anxious expectation OF his return
"Yamma's prospects were bright as
the star of Venus. In her tribe women
are treated with great consideration,
they act an important part in the pub
lie and private concerns of their hus-
bands, go unveiled, and, in point Of per-
sonal freedom, they are under no re-
stra.nt beyond that which delicacy and
the custom Of their mothers impose.
The Parsee usages, with respect to
marriage, are founded upon the happi-
ness of domestic life, and they provide
for the preservation Of purity in the
fair sex so effectually, that it is the
boast of this admirable class OF the In
dian community, that their wives never
prove unfaithful; nor is there an in
stance of prostitution among their
daughters. Indeed their character in
this respect is SO well established at
Bombay, that it is believed every aber'
ration from virtue in their tribe is pu-
,ished with immediate death, and the
| no,oriety of the family disgrace care
fully suppressed. Parsee laws and usa-
ges are so we'll framed for the proven.
ton of crime and the adjustment Of
disputes, that an instance scarcely ever
occurs of a reference to British justice.
A Parsee can have but one wife. II
She die, her family are bound to find 9
widow for the forlorn ones second
mate; for he is not allowed to marry a
young girl, as with US, in his old age
nor is he obliged to wed again, should
he be DESTROYS Of preserving fidelity te
his departed halt.
The same rule holds if the HUSBAND
die: his family are bound to find Wi
dover, in compliance with wish OF
the subjec, indicated by the lady
friends. 3y this judicious arrange
neat, the frailties of human nature arr
restrained, and even converted lu''