Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-04-29
BgrRing Of FTty-SVGn Women at the Funeral of
an indian Prince


The Internal rites n. the death Of an Indian
Prince are thus described in an extract of letter
from augueuar, III Ilc IIst mules, Wf..te1 ~
Danish Missionary. They dug without the
walls Of the city, where tina. Prince who died at
age of eighty, made his residence. 4 large pit
which they filed with wood, ranged aud piled up
as for a bonfire. The corpse of the deceased.
richly hoJ.led and adorned, was brolght forth In
great pomp, and laid on The pile; after which the
Bramlns theaihon puess,) EudeI the fire, with
abundance Of sunerstIons ceremonies. The
wives and cOncu1Incs Of the deceased, who &C
c0rding to the law or custom of the country.
ought 10 die with him, appeared there at the same
time, and walked several times round the funeral
pile. They were in number f0rly-seyen, all finely
decked with Jewels, and adorned with flowers
The favored wife or cOncubne carried the pOnard
Cf the defunct prince, which she delivered up to
/ his successor, and made a short speech exorting
him to use il with moderation, SO as never to let
il light on any but the guilty. Then she boldly
turned her face towards the pile, and, after inyo-
ing her gods, leapod into tho midst the fumes.
The second was the sister Of prince named
Tandaman, who was present at these horrid rites.
She gave him the Jewels she wore, and the prince.
in receiving them, embraced her most tendery.
and poured out a food of tears: but The princess
without betraying the least concern, looked al
ternalely, with a steady cOuntenance on the pile
and on the spectators, and crying with loud
voice, 'Chira! Chirai" which is the name Of one
Of their gods, she jumped rs cheerfuy into the
flames as the first did.
The others followed her close; some of them
appeared resolu.e enough, but others looked wild
and detected. There was one in particular, who
being more dismayed than her companions, ran
/ to embrace one Of the spectators. who was a
Christian, praying him TO save her; but this was
not in his power 10 do, and the poor wretch was
Immediately tumbled headlODg into Ihc fire.
However intrepid most of those unhappy vic
inns oPpeared before jumping into The pitt the note
was vastly altered when n the midst of the flames.
/ There they shrioked hideously, tumbing one
/ over another, striving to reach the edge of the
pit, and get out Of it; but they were kept in by
throwing heaps Of bIlles and tagots upon them, as
well to knock them the head as to increase
. the fire. When they were consumed, the Bra
minis drew near the smoking pile, and performed
/ abundance Of ridiculous ceremonies over the
ashes of the poor wretches. The next day they
/ gathered up the bones, and having wrapped them
/ up in fine linen, carried them 10 a place near the
/ Isle Of Ra.aesuren, where they cast them into the
sea. After which, the pit was filled up, and q
temple since erected on the spot, where sacrifices
are offered up in honor of the prince and his
wives, who from thenceforth are numbered among
the saints or goddesses.
DEATH OF Col. BoMFoRD.--This gentleman
for many years distinguished officer of engineer!
and ordnance in the Uaited States army, died sud
denly at Boston on the evening of the 25th uIt
0rFTho Boston Post states that General Pierc'
has resigned his commission in the army, and re
turned to the practice of his profession.
/ 0FThe Franco Americans of New Orean
fired a salute of hundred guns on 9th ut. in III
Place d'Aames in honor of the French revolution
|
If you wish to preserve fine teeth, always clsa'
them thoroughly, after your last meal at night