Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-28
BURIAL OF A LIVING GIRL.

Tor 1889.
She was, consequently, now fully per-
| snaded that he was dead-ior at the first
| she had some doub's-even though she had
been so many hours IN the presence Of his
corpsc-and the idea of being buried in the
snme grave with hun, was TO her matter
Of rejoicing rather than of grief For her
death had no fears, since the object OF her
attachment was no more; and she therefore
cheerfuIy resigned herself TO the fate that
awaited her
That very afternoon The beautiful Pariah
was placed in a hackney. with The corpse
fihe once young Yougbal wrapped in
ceremenl. The doom pronounced against
her was, that she should be buried in the
same grave with the body of her lover in
The neighborhood Of the mountain village
where her 'her dwell, and in which she
was born. The persons who accompanied
her had sufficient compassion to allow her
to pass few hours with her disconsolate
parent, previously to being consigned to
that tomb prepared Cor the reception of one
tor whom she had entertained an earnest at
tachment. She passed the night under
the parental roof, and in the morning early.
accompanied by those that had been ap
pointed to conduct the lnrerment Of the
living with the dead, proceeded 10 the place
of sepuchre.
1t was at the foot of a lofty cone, which.
| rising among cluster Of small hills, lifted
its proud head to The clouds. and seemed
to stand there monument of the stupen.
duous exercise Of Omnpotent power
The body of Youghal bad been sent for
ward to this place Of burial, and the unhap-
py victim ofusurped and pampered tyranny
was allowed to follow rather than accom-.
pany an object, which, though concealed
from sight, was still loalhsome to more
delicate sense, in spite of the ceremcnt by
which it was enveoped. The party slowly
assembled the hill 10 front was an oficial
on horseback, who had the charge of con.
Quoting the melancholy business, attended,
on either side, by man armed. The in.
nocent maiden followed between two per.
sons, likewise armed, who had neither re.
spect for her sorrOws, nor compassion for
her condition. Having fixed upon as the
scene of cruel punishment, the party reach
ed rude wooden bridge, thrown over q
gully presenting frightful aspect Of tur-
bulence and danger.
1t had steep, irregular channel, through
which The mountain current poured with
frIgh,ful mpe!uos,y. occasiona lily lmpeded
in its precip'ous descent by projecting mas.
ses Of rocks and other impedlments collect.
ed there IN the more temperate seasons OF
the year, when during the prevalence of
temporary storms, portions of the hill are
loosened from their parent masses, and
thrown into the water courses, then nearly
dry. or only changed to shallow or more
gentle streams.
The bridge consisted OF single wide
plank of teak about half foot 10 thickness,
and nearly two feet wide. sustained under
one end by beams inserted in the nequa-
ties of the bank. and affording effectual
support to rude fabric secured on The 9th,
er side oy two thin but strong upright
poles, tina, kept it sufficiently steady to at.
ford sale. yet fearful footing. The tor.
rent roared omnously as the procession
passed over the bridge, which v,bra,ed
every step. MarralaIIas father accompa.
MED her to The gully, and then turned
homeward from a scene OF distress which
he had the fort,ude to encounter. After
a silent march of about two hours, The VIC
tim and her guards reached he place Of
ln,erment. 10 small hollow between the
wo rocks, large deep hole had been dug.
about three feet square. Upon the brink
was placed the corpse of Youghal. in a
state of siCkening decomposition, covered
with ragged puampore. The wrerched
girl advanced to the side Of the pit without
shedding tear, and slrewlng some flowers
over the corpse expressed her satisfaction
at the privilege of being LAID beside him 10
death, whom she had so fondy loved in
life. Having completed the preliminary
ceremonlaIs she desired that the ceremo-
ny might proceed. Her manner was sol
emn, though gentle, exhibiting calm yet
lofty determination to meet death with the
spirit OF resignation, which best become
beings who are born to die.
Al length, declaring she was ready to
suffer the dreadful penalty to which she
had been doomed by an unjust and self fish
tyrant, the body Of her late lover was low
cred into The sepulchre, and Mariatala
having again scattered some flowers into
il, descended into the dreary chamber Of
death. Her dress consisted of light vest
of coored silk, under loose flowing drape'
ry OF thin white calico; her black hair was
rolled up in large knot on the top of hel
head, secured by large brass pin, taper
ed and polished with gold. Upon heI
wrist she wore thin bangles and armlets o
buffalo's horn. The tips of her nails were
slightly llnctured with henna. Having
been lowered into the vault, she seated her
self upon projecting ledge, purposely Ief
in the head wall of the grave, and placed
the corpse upon her knees. At the pit
HORIZONTAL opening had been dug to adm
the dead body, so that It's legs were forcet
into hoe.and its head rested on the lap o
it's living companion. A few bamboos wer,
now crossed above the Ialter's head, an,
fixed firmly ia the side of the pit, upol
whose slender beams the branches wer
thrown, and canopy being thus formed
which prevented the earth from falling in