Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-30
BURNING OF WIDOWS.

Extract of letter from Cu,tacl, April -, 1923
"A lew days ago witnessed a siIttce The de-
ceased was Bcngalee, named Ram Kooinar he died
worth hUpO rupees ready money, and lch beautiful
young widow about 10 years Of age. Two OF the
mans brothers felt the possession of this cash nh o
Jeot suiciently important TO induce them TO attempt
the removal OF the young creature, their only obs
Gle; nor had they much difficulty in succeeding for
under the influence of grief for her irreparab, loss
ana aided by the supcrstitous hopes and fears excl
.ed oy the brahmans she soon declared she would
become suffice with her husbands corpse. Appli-
cation was made to the magistrate who uuon er;,i-
~, discovered thnt the widow was deeply intoxica-
ted refused his permission, and directed the body to
rea,vos oe{er we're mott thus to be foed ,bcr
attempt and appealed to the Commissioners who ham
ded the appeal TO the Sudder Dewunncc in CAlcrtta
Fifteen or sixteen days elapsed before any decision
was received; during which time, all the interest That
had been excited in the public mind had quite subsidized
We hoped that the Court, by ncglcctinp the affair
would second the humane attempt Of tho mapis m
to save the poor creature doomed to death but ye
hoped III vain; for at the expiration of the above
mentioned period, official document was received
directing that the sacrifice should take place. II il
not easy to conceive the Joy which the blood thirsty
relatives manifested at this triumph or the praises
which they ascrlbed TO the higher authorities The
nourishcrs of their religion "-fthe friends Of tho
gods" Having received these orders the time and
place were soon fixed upon. About half past four
O'CLOCK repaired to the place, the bed Of the Cut
gung river, where found the poor woman slrro,In-
ded by her inhuman murdercrs and supported by her
old nurse. At her feet stood three or four pots OF
water-also small copper vessel, continuing wat or
and red lower and she was surrounded by an in.
mcnse crowd ofspectatorS | placed myself as near
her DC could, to in contact with the vos
sells or her cothcs (n1tivc fnsliOn) and began 10 i-
suade her from her purpose. Iior atten-
dantS were highly indignantl ut mo- aud, on hint
being given her, she turned away her head and rct
sed to hear. The arrival OF the Judge was tie sig
nal for preparation. lie asked her II j. were her de-
sire to bnrn: she replied eyes" "Then," said he,
81 cannot hinder You longer and hurrec Dol" rent
the air. The officiating Bralinan now bcpan IN read
his formulas. This was soon over and they led tho
victim to the pile. Here they collected round her
some whispering, encouraging, and others i'm
pregnatng her clothes, hair, &c. with rosn and oil.
and some again were busy impregnat1r ouautiiy
Of fax with rosin, and such things. She was now
led several times around her pile of DEATH the Bral
man proDouncing blessings before hcr, and nv hc-
appearance she evidently thought herself blessed
Having completed her perambulaio ions all hnr atfcn-
dant5 ordered to leave her, when she liher no
~ turned towards the pile, and, walking in laid her
! self down, and waited the dcvOurinc Games Tho
relatives asked permission To throw some wood ON ta
woman, but tie Judge refused. The next ne-tr rcl-
alive stepped TO the piles mouth and Lav 90,
read incubation, TO relieve his soul from eip. he
! lighted wisp ofstraw and wn ked once round ,o
with i, s. then burnd il, all flaming undcr the ga <
straw at the bead of the pile inside, Just before tho
victims face x in moment the whole was enycoped
in flames. We now booked for nm aitcnpt TO escanc.
but nowhc the fire dcvourcd her beautiful hosd o..
! hair, she shook her head, and again laid il down.
soon saw her raise her legs in the agonics of dea
then lower them, and all was over. Inlalirp tlr
smoke into her lungs, she was suocated very soop.
| THE scene now impovorsheH MI descrip ion The
horrid Joy Of the relatives, the fire. tie tormen,ed
victim, the shouts and music OF the multitude. an
corspircdo impress ny mind With the idea that cor
taiuly this was hoL made my way oit oftac crowd
and ran home
%
Remarkable Sao5e limit Tic following cyfrsor.
binary circumstance is said 10 have lately occurred M