Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-05-28

perform. She was young; u"coh'hohiy ian
for a Bengal Hindoo, well formed, and grown
and with a very animated and sensible couh-
tenance.
Her male relations joined hands and made
ring around, but very close 10 her; and her ID
Their, on whose arm she leaned, and IN mat oreer
proceeded to the river occasionally oa''eo o"
God csHu.ree Bhole"-God Speak) 10 e''"ee
his satisfaction al the act about TO be p"rot''icu'
or, ito receive the sacrifice propltious'y. rs
she passed The pile, she stopped Tor an ms
and looked very earnestly al the BODY. OH.
proceeded 10 the river, ba'hed surrounded anu
nearly projected from my view oy the o'ne'
women,) and offered 10 the Gauges certain
sweet smelling flowers and fruits. one ea'eu
on several of her female friends or relations 10
approach, and having taken the bangles arm
lets of gold and silver from her waist, and o.
,her gold and silver ornaments from her ne. n
and different parts OF her person, gave to sacn
of The women some one article. Her eyes once
or twice met mine, aud slightly and gently smi-
ed. A 8, anain now approached ana 'eau ~
her some passages from the Shaslerk the f1'hou
scriu,ures' y the words Of which she repeated
correctly and calmly after him. She then look
eff her upper garments which were OF pale
yellow muslin, and her father wrap, round her
several wards of dark coloured rec SILK
Round each OF her arms small packet. contain
ing, as was informed, bclel aud certain arcs
matte seeds, was tied.
A large quantity of boiled rice, and sort oil
com6ls, we're put into fold oil her dress; ana
with cheerful alacrity in her air and manner
and piacid smile on her countenancc, she
proceeded towards the pile, close to winch
followed her. On her way 10 the pile, she dis
perscd amongst the surrounding spectators
large handfuls Of the rice and commits Her
father led her round the pile, and alter one
circuit, whether from eagerness 10 hnish lhe
ceremony, or from ignorance OF It's forms, she
attempted TO get upon IL, but was prevented oy
her fal her unll she had completed seven entire
circuits. She then mounted the pile aud lay
down by her husband One OF The relations
placed her left arm over her husbands neck
Her co,nlenance was still unal'ered. They
next nlaced over both bodies several alternate
LAYERS Of wood, straw, sor. Of tow calico
cute" and other combus,ibe matters, and
concluded The whole by emptying several pots
of ehee Clarified butterl or oil, and OF pounded
rosin over the pile.
Her face was still visible, and a near relation
at this moment gave her some boiled rice TO
eaH which she apparently swallowed! the
dead mans portion beng laid down before his
mouth on the pile. They next covered the
faces Of the two boGie., first with muslin
cloth, and then with some tow; and two oil the
male relations went rapidly round the Pile,
three times with lighted flambedux IN their
hands, touching but not setting fire to each OF
the corners as they passed. Al the conclusion
of this ceremony, one Of them presented his
Hambeau 10 the girls father, who, with wild
look and unsteady hand, eagerly ran 10 the
windward corner Of the pile, and avert
ing his head, set the whole on h"e, CRYING
out as before "Hurree Bhole," in which eJacu-
la,ion he was Joined by most Of the relations,
who at the same time continued 10 throw large
quantities of pounded rosin on those parts OF
The pile which had already kindled.
The whole in one instant Was one sheet oil
fire; and now, when interference was too laie
for the preservation Of the woman. circum-
stance occurred, shat made me and the only
two other Europeans who were present, bitter
Iv regret, that we had not endeavoured 10 pres
vent this brutal sacrifice to a savage and inba'
man supers ti,ion. AS soon as tie pile had
been fled, tho band Of native musicians, chiefly
consisting Of players on species OF drum, called
a Tom tom, and on cows horns, and other
Instruments, more remarkable Tor their dis
cordan, noises than for any musical quality,
struck up din we'll calculated 10 drown all
human EXPLANATIONS. notwithstanding the
uproar, as stood near 10 the pile, l dis
tinctly heard the woman shrieking loudly, and
ealling for neatly minute. when, happily, Ell
her the smoke the flames, put an end to
her life and dreadful suffering!
From the time of her leaving the PaIanquin
ill her death, was a5ou, fifteen minutes. When
the whole pile was consumed, and the rising
tide had nearly reached the spot where IT had
stood, the ashes were carefully collected and
thrown into the Holy CANOES.
In the foregoing relation, have most literally
adhered to facts; and have only to add, that
have not uscC one e2ithet, throughout the
whole, that did not suggest itself during the
performance Of he ceremony-on my return
from which, the memoranda which now send
you were committed to writing, having been
taken down at the moment in pencil.
/ am, Sir, your humble Servant, r. d.
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
The spontaneous combustion Of certain bo-
dies is no, only subject Of interest in scen-
tihc point Of view, but is one OF some concern