Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-14
MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES.
FROM te:ic" IN tic .AIs,c .Mon:aty .!asa.;ae.
4 SUVTEE

S"' 'rtGUONE, with what conceive 10 be /
unusual advantages, and ! therefore wish,
, through the medium of your work, to com
munlcate an exact account of that which / !
nave not hitherto seen so particularly desert
bed IN any books relating to the manners
and customs OF the natives of India. do so .
az the present moment, because both the !
parliament and the public seem to have
turned their attention very particularly TO !
this subject
Having received information tlat a wo-
man intended TO burn herself with her nus
lnands body, on particular day. Il little be-
youd thitPoor. village Ill the envmons Of
Calcutta, lust beyond the limits to which the
authority OF the supreme court extends, |
proceeded 10 the spot about nine O'Clock,
\. NJ, on the appointed tlav. The place Sc
'octcd was quite Il scqucstcrcd spot, OF nc
very considerable dimensions, and surro,,n-
dcd by lHgt trees, except on the side where i,
was hour I'd by the Gan@es. | found tho
deceased "a young man OF the - 'ritcr Cast)
placed on small bedstoad near the river
iside, and attended by some Of his male rela-
tons. Attic distance OF d few Yards, the
Hite remained in close palanqtin, accom-
panied and surrounded by several females.
with some OF whom she occasionally CONVEX
lscd through the Venetian windows oft,c We
lmcIc On inquiry, | found that she had
occn married tour years, had but recently
cohabitcd with her husband, and was then
lbut just thirteen years of age. When saw
Iief shortly alter, she seemed TO me, from her
SIZE ana composed matroniv manner 10 be
some years Older
4 square pile, consisting OF dried wood.
ana sufficiently large TO contain with ease
inc Two bodies upon It, was erected Just a.
eoFe high water, and between three and four
ieet from the ground. The mans body
which had been previously taken to the river
and washed, and over which slight cover
ing OF species of gauzc had been thrown,
was by some OF the relations taken I'D and
placed upon the pile. Notice was then sent
TO the women, TO acquaint them that ssall
was ready" As heard the order eive,,
10 summon her, Instantly approached the
.ralanquin, in which the " oman Law. and
there being very few persons present, sue
ceeded IN getting within three feet of her.
" hen the doors oftlle palanquin were OPEN
ed, with much firmness in her general ap-
J Pearanoc and demcanor, but with a slight
degree al hurry in her step, she proceeded
towards the river. Her whole appearance
was peculiarly Interested. independently of
TIC solemn rite she was then about to per
form. She was young, uncommonIy fair for
a Bengal Hindoo, well formed and grown,
and "itA very animated and scnsblci
icountenancc. Her male relations ioiuc6
hands and made a ring around. but very
close to her, and her father, on whose arm
she leaned, and in that order proceeded TO the
river he occasionally calling on God (''Iur
rec oie''-(icd speah) to evincc his sa-
tisiacfon at the act aboutto be performed, or.
ITO receive the sacrifice propitiousiy." As she
passed the pile, she stopped for an Instant
and looked very earnestly at the body. She
proceeded to the river, bathed, Surrounded
! and nearly protected from view by the wo-i
menu and offered to tho Gangcs certain
sweet smelling flowers and fruits. She CALL
cd OH several OF her female friends or rclaI
hons to approach, and having taken the
bangles (arnlcts Of gold Or silver from hert
wrists, and other gold and silver ornamental
from her neck and different parts Other per
son, gave to each OF the women some onci
s art!cie.~-licr eye. once or twice. met mine.
and she slightly and gently smiled. 4 Bra.
mn now approached and read to her some
! passages from the Shastcr, (tha Indoo Scrir-I
turCS) ting words OF which she repeated cdr'
I roctiy and calmly after him. She then took
OIL her upper garments, which were Of nale !
! Yclio" Inasm and her father wrapped round
| iicr several yarns of dark colorcd rcd sill; |
! Round each of her arms a small pa.kc,. |
containing. as aDl informed, bctcl and Ger
tam aromatic seeds, we're tied. 4 laroo
/ quantity of boiled rice aud sort Of comffs /
was put into fold Of her dros, and with = (.
cheerful a!acrty in her air and manner and
PLACID smile On her Countcnancc. she nfn-l
ce"dcd towards tho pile, close 10 which !
t0!ioWcd her. On her way to tIr2 piIc she
"SPo15ed among tho surrounding spectators
large handiuis o.the rice AID comHfs Her
ri. l-G b,.rs Il