The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-10-04

,vas soon aoyeIoped in flames, and saw c
tha Ere catch the woman's garments, I
which were impreguated with scented
iii mixed with saadarach and saffron
bu, I could not perceive the
slightass Indication of pain, or even IN,
easiuess in the victim, and II was sa'o
that she pronounced with emphasis the
words Eve, two; to signify that ttils be-
inc the fifth time she had buraed her
self with the same husband, there want
ed only two more similar sacrihces 20
render her perfect. according 10 inc
Iioctrine Of the transmigration OF SOUS
as if a certain Renaissance, or prophet
ic spirit, had been impaired TO her at
that moment of her dissolution. But,
this was only the commencement OF Inc
internal tragedy. thought that the
singing and dancing of the i've women
were nothing more than some unmean-
ing ceremony; great, therefore, was my
establishment, when ] saw That me
flames, having ignited the clothes Of one
of these females, she cast herself head
foremost into The pit. The horrio ex-
ample was followed by another woman
rs soon as the flames caught her person.
The three women who remained then
took hold of each other by the hano'
rasuming the dance with perfect COM
uosure }; and, after short lapse of time,
fbey also precipilated themselves, one
afler another, into the FIRE. / soon
learnt the meaning Of these multiplied
sacrifices. The five women we're slaves,
4...e., having witnessed the deep athlcuon
IL their mistress in consequence OF tue
Illness of her husband, whom she prom
iscd not to survive, they were so moved
with compassion that they entered INTO
,a engagement to perish by the same
n mes that consumed their beloved mis-
tess.
AS was leaving Surat for Persia,
! witnessed HE devotion and burning oil
another widow; several EngIlshnen
nad Dn,chmen, and Mr.. Chardin, OF
Paris, were present. She was OF the
middle age, and by no means unoomeiy'
do not expect, with my limited pow
ers of expression, to convey full idea
Of the brutish holiness, or ffer0cioHs
gaiety, depicted on this woman's ceua-
tenance of her undaunled step; of the
freedom from all perturbation with
which she conversed, and permitted her
self to be washed; of the look OF con-
fidence, or rather Of insensibility, which
she cast upon us; of her easy air, free
from detection of her lofty carriage,
void of embarrassment when she was
examining her little cabin, composed of
dry and thick miIlet straw, with 40 in
termixture Of small wood when she
en1Stou -.--I.r =. I-.-- ,lnnn
the funeral pile, placed her deceased
husbands head in her lsP, took up
torch and with her own hand lighted the
fire within, while'i know not how many
Brahnins we're busiIy engaged in kind
ling it without. Well indeed, may
despair of representing this whole
scene with proper and genuine feeling,
such as experienced at the spectacle
itself, or of painting il 10 colors suffi-
ciently vivid. My recollection of it, in
deed, is SO vivid, that it seems only a
few DAYS since the horrid reality passed
before my eyes, aud with pain per-
suade myself it was any thing but a
frigh:ful dream.
"At Lahore saw most beautiful
Young widow sacrificed, who could not,
!. / think, have been more than twelve
years of age. The poor little creature
appeared more dead than alive when
she approached the dreadful pit. The
agony Of her mind cannot be described.
She trembled, and wept bitterly; but
three or four of the -Bishmins, assisted
by an old woman, who held her under
The arm, forced the unwilling victim
toward the fatal spot, seated her on the
wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she
should run away, and in that situation
the innocent creature was burnt alive"
TIE WIFE AND Cow honest peas
ant having settled in little village, had,
by his good conduct, gained the esteem
OF all his neighbors. He had the mis-
fortune to lose his COW; be was much
afflicted; and his wife took the loss so
much to her heart that she died soon
after. This new trouble rendered The
good man incoDsolable, and he remained
several months without going out of his
house. His neighbors at last came 20
comfort him.
my friend,' said one ofthcm, " Che
wife you have lost was certainly very
excellent woman but she was not the
only one. You are young, healthy, and
understand your business very well
you may easily find another wife. /,
for instance, have three daughters, and
should be happy to have you for SON.
in-law."
Another offered him his sister, and
third his niece.
Gracious heaven' exclaimed the un-