New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-26
Human Sacrifices i'm India.

Blackwood's Magazine for August contains a
notice of paper recently published by the Roya
Asiat;c Society Of London, written by Capt. Mac
pherson of the Madras Army, and giving some ac-
count of the Khonds, one of the three races that
inhabi the territory which formed the ancient king
dom of Orissa They are Polytheists-have an
hereditary priestheod-are rigid observers of We
racity, and preserve in their religious worship
and opinions many of the distinctive bnt not most
beautiful features of the Grecian system in the
Pelasgic period. They almost the only people
that offer human sacrifices and of their festivals
at these horrid rites we find the following account
from Capt Macpherson's work:
"They are generally attended by large con-
course of people of both sexes, and continue for
three days, which are passed in the indulgence OF
every form of gross eXcess--in more than Satur-
MILAN license.
." The first day and night are spent exclusively
in drunken feasting and obscene riot. Upon the
second morning, the victim, who has tasted from
the preceding evening, is carefully washed dressed
in new garment, and led forth from the village in
solemn procession, with music and dancing.
"The meria grove, clump of deep and shadowy
forest trees
'Sylva alto Jovis, lucusque Dian;e,'
in which the mango, the Bur, the dammar. and the
pipala generally prevail, usually stands at short
distance from the hamlet, by rivulet, which Is
called the Meria stream. II is kept sacred from
the axe, and is avoided by the Khond as haunted
ground. My followers were always warned TO
abstain from seeking shelter WITHIN its awful shade.
In its centre, upon the second day, an upright
stake is fixed generally between two plants of the
sankissar or bazaar danti shrub. The victim is
seated at its foot, bound back it by tho priest.
L. H. I'd III oil oh
and adorned with flowers and a species Of reoe-
renee, ,ohich IL IS not easy to distinguish from
alteration. is paid to him throughout the day.
And there is now infinite contention to obtain the
slightest relic OF his person; particle OF the
tumeric paste with which he is smeared, or a
drop Of his spttlc being esteemed, Especially by
the women,) of supreme virtue.
% In some districts, instead of being thus bound
in grove the victim is exposed in the vii
lage, upon couch, after being led in procession
round the place of sacrifice. And in some parts
Of Goomsur where this practice prevails. small
rude images of beasts and birds in clay are made
10 great numbers at this festival, and stuck or
poles; practice, OF the origin or meaning Of
which, / have been able to obtain satisfactory
explanation.
"Upon the third morning, the victim is re-
freshcd with little milk and palm sage, while
the licentous feast which has scarcely been inter
mitted during the night, is loudly renewed. Abou
noon, these orgies terminate, and tho assembage
issues forth, with stunning shouts aud pealing mu
sic, to consummate the sacrifice.
"As the victim must not suffer bound, nor, or
the other hand, exhibit any show of resistance, the
bones Of his arms, and, if necessary those of his
legs, arc now broken in several places.
The acceptable place of sacrifice has been dis.
covered during the previous night by persons sen,
out for this purpose into the fields of the village
of the private oblator. The ground i. probed
in the dark with long sticks, and the first deep
chnk that is pierced is considered the spot indi
Gated by the earth-sod. The rod is left standing
in the earth, and in the morning four large post.
are set up around IL
The priest, assisted by the abbaya and one OF
two of the elders of the village, now takas the
branch of green Tree, which is cleft TO distance
of several feet down the centre; they insert the
victim within the rift, fitting it in some districts to
his chest, in others to his throat, Cords are then
twisted round the open extremity of the stake
which the priest, aided by his assistants, strives
with his whole force to close. He then wounds
the victim slightly with his axe, when the crowd
throws itself upon the sacrifice, and exclaiming
we bought you with price, and no sin rests on
US strips the flesh from the bones. Each man
bears his bloody shred 10 his fields, and thence
turns straight home Next day all that remains OF
the victim is burned up with whole sheep on U
funeral pile and the ashes are scattered over the
fields, or laid as paste over the houses and grana
ries and for three days after the sacrifice, the in
habitants of the village which afforded it remain
dumb, communicating with each other only by
signs. and remaining unvisted by strangers. Al
the end OF this time, buffalo is slaughtered u,
the place of sacrifice when tongues are ocsened. y
ro BY Special Appointment