The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-07-09
NHNSCEEEAN EGNUS,
BURIAL OF A LIVING GIRL.

BURIAL OF A LIVING GIRL.
| The following thrilling description of the
Hindoo burial of a living girl, in the tomb of a
dead lover, from the Oriental Annual for 1889.
She was, consequently, now fully persuaded
that he was dead-for at the first she had some
doubts-even though she had been so many
hours in the presence of his corpse-and the
idea OF being buried in the same grave with
him, was to her matter of rejoicing rather
than of grief. For her death had no fears,
since the object fiber attachment was no more
and she therefore cheeriully resigned herself to
the fate that awaited her.
That very afternoon the beautiful Parah was
placed in hackney, with the corpse of the
once young Yougha wrapped in a cerement.
The doom pronounced against her was, that
she should he buried IN the same grave with the
body OF her lover, iii the neighborhood of the
mountain village where her father dwet and
in which she was born. The persons who ac-
companed her had sufficient compassion 10 al
low her TO pass few hours with her disconso-
late parent, previously to being consigned TO that
tomb prepared tor the reception of one for whom
she had entertained an earnest attachment She
passed the night under the parental ROOF, and in
! the morning early, accompanied by those that
had been appointed TO conduct tie inferno mt of
the living with the dead, proceeded TO the place
of sepulchre.
1t was at the foot of lofty cone, which, rs-
ing among q cluster of small hills, lifted its
proud head 10 the clouds, and seemed to stand
there monument of the stupenduous exercise
of Omnipotent power. The body of Youghal
had been sent forward to this place of burial and
the unhappy victim of usurped and pampered
tyranny was allowed to follow rather than &C
company on object, which, though concealed
from sight, was still loathsome to q more deli
| cate sense, in spite of the cerement by which 1t
was enveloped. The party slowly assembled the
hill. In front was an official OH horseback, who
n no f.ho Of M
business, attended, on either side, by man arm
ed. The innocent maiden followed betweentwo
persons, likewise armed who had neither respect
for her sorrows, nor compassion Tor her condi
ton. Having fixed upon as the scene OF cruel
punishment, the party reached rude wooden
bridge, thrown over gully presenting fright
full aspect of turbulence and danger.
1t had a steep, irregular channel, through
which the mountain current poured with fright
full impetuosity, occasionally impeded in its pre-
cipitous descent by projecting masses of rocks
and other impediments collected there in the
more temperate seasons of the year, when dur
| ing the prevalence OF temporary storms, portions
Of the hill are loosened from their parent mass
es, and thrown into the water courses, then near
ly dry. or only changed to shallow or more
gentle streams.
The bridge consisted of single wide plank
Of teak about half foot in thickness, and near
ly two feet wide, sustained under one end by
beams inserted in the inequalities of the bank,
and affording effectual support to rude fabric
secured on the other side by two thin but strong
upright poles, that kept it sufficiently steady to
afford safe, yet fearful footing. The torrent
roared ominously as the procession passed over
the bridge, which vibrated every step. Maria.
talla's father accompanied her to the gully. and
then turned homewar2 from scene of distress
which he had the fortitude to encounter. After
a silent march of about two hours, the victim
and her gu1rds reached the place OF interinent.
| In a small hollow between the two rocks, a
large deep hole had been dug, about three feet
square. Upon the brink was placed the corpse
of Yonghal, in a state of sickening decomposi.
ton. covered with a ragged pulampore. The
wretched girl advanced to the side of the pit
without shedding tear, add strewing some
flowers over the corpse expressed her satisfac
ton at the privilege of being laid beside him
in death, whom she had so iondly loved IN life.
Having completed the preliminary ceremonias,
she desired that the remony might proceed
| Her manner was solemn, though gentle, exhib-
| Ting calm yet lofty determination to meet
death with the spirit of resignation, which best
become beings who are horn to die.
AT length, declaring she was ready to suffer
the dreadful penalty to which she had been
doomed by an unjust and selfish tyrant, the DO
DIV of her late lover was lowered into the sepul-
chre, and Mariatalla having again scattered
some flowers into into it descended into the
dreary chamber of DEATH, Her dress consisted OF
a lighs vest of colored silk under loose flowing
drapery Of thin white calico /; her black hair
was rolled up in large knot on the top of her
head secured by large brass pin, tapered and
polished with gold. Upon her wrist she wore
thin bangles and armlets of butfalos norm
| The tips of her nails were slightly tnctured with
henna. Having been lowered into the vaull,she
seated herself upon a projecting ledge, purpose,
ly left in the head wall of the grave and placed
the corpse upon her knees. At the pit hori.
zontal opening had been dug to admit the dead
body, so that its legs were forced into hole,and
its head rested on the lap of it's living companion,