Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-06-25

the palanquIn were opened, With En,s2h
frmness in her general appearances
meanor, but with slight degree cit,8sy
in her step, she proceeded towards t'isriy-
err Her whole appearance was peculiarly
interested, independently of the solemn rite
she was then about to perform. SHE was
young, uncommonly fair for BesgaI Hin
doc, we'll formed and grown, and with a
very animated and sensible ceunteRance.
Her male relations joined hands and made
ring round, but very close to her, and
her father, on whose arm she leaned, and
in that order proceeded to the river, he Oc-
casionalIy calling on God ("Huuee BholeF
God speak 10 eyince his satisfaction al
the act about to be performed, or, ''to re
coive the sacrifice propitiously." As she
! passed the pile, she stopped for an instant
and looked very earnestly at the body.
She proceeded to the river, bathed. sur
rounded and nearly protected from view by
the women, and offered to the Gauges
certain sweet smelling flowers and fruits.
She called on several other female friends
or relations TO approach, and having taken
the bangles (armlets of gold and silver
froa her wrists, and other gold and silver
ornaments fromher neck ana different parts
of her person, gave to each of the women
some one article.-Her eye, once or twice,
met mine, and she slightly and gently
lsmiled. A Bramin now approached and
read to her some passages from the Shas-
ter, (the Hndoo Scriptures the words Of
which she repeated correctly and calmly
after him. She then took off her upper
garments, which were of pale yellow mus
lin, aud her father wrapped round her sew
eral Yards ofdark colored red silk. Round
! each of her arms a small packet, contain
inc, as am informed, betel and certain
aromatic seeds. were ted A large guam
ldty ofboiled rice and sort Of comtts was
put into fold of her dress; and with q
cheerful alacrlty in her air and manner
and placid smile on her couutenance, she
proceeded towards the pic, closely towhich
II followed her Onher way TO the pile she
dispersed among the surrounding specta-
tors large handfuls ofthe rice and comtits.
( Her father led her round the pile, and af-
Ter one circuit, whether from eagernees to
finish the ceremony, or from ignorance Of
Its forms, she attempted to get upon it, but
was prevented by her father uutil she had
completed seven entire circuits. She then
mounted the pile and lay down by her hus
band. One ofthe relations placed her left
arm over her husbands neck. Her coun-
Itenance was still and unaltereG
They next placed over both bodies sew
eral alternate layers of wood straw, sort
of tow called "Jute," several pots Of ghee
/ clarified butter or oil, and Of pounded
resin over the pile. Her face was still Wis
ible. and a near relation at this moment
cave her some boiled rice 10 eatl which
/ She apparently swallowed. The dead
mans portion being laid down before his
mouth on the pile. They next covered
the faces of the two bodies, first with mus
| lin cloth, and then with some tow; and two
of the male relations went rapidly round
the pile three times with lighted hambeaux
in their hands, touching but not setting fire
to each of the corners as they passed. At
the conclusion of this ceremony one Of
them presented his fambeau to the girls
father, who with wild look and unsteady
hand, eagerly run to the windward corner
fthe pile, and ayerting his head, set the
whole on fire, crying out as before, "Hur-
rec Bholel" in which ejaculation he was
Joined by most of the relations, who at
the same time continued to throw large
quantities of pounded resin on those parts
of the pile which had already kindled.
The whole in an instant was one sheet
of flre-and now, when interference was
to late for the preservation of the woman,
a circumstance occurred that me and only
two other Europeans who were present, bit
terlv regret that we did not endeayor to
prevent this brutal sacrifice TO a savage g.
brutal superstition. As soon as the pile
had been fired, the band ofnative musicians
chiefly consisting of players on a species
of drum, called a TOm-tom, and on cows
horns and other instruments, more remark
able for their discordant noises than for any
musical quality, struck up din well cal
culated to drown all human exclamatlons.
Notwithstanding the uproar, as / stood
very near the pile, distinctly heard the
woman shrieking loudly and calling for
help repeatedly for near a minute, when
happily either the smoke or the flames put
an end to her life and dreadful suferings.l
From the time other leaving the palan-
quin, till her death, was about fifteen min
utes.
When the whole was consumed, and the
rising tide had nearly reached the spot
whore n had stood the ashes were careful