Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-09-17
A HindOo Suttee.

A HindOo Suttee.
While the question of the cause of the
mutiny in India is not yet settled, and it i:
thought that the interference of ths British
lin Hindoo observances is at the bottom Of
it, the following account will be read with
interest:
Lieutenant Earle and Munshi Lutfullat
were informed that suttee was to be per.
formed at the village of Maholi, near the
river side. We give the account in the
MnDshi's own words: The news startled
my young friend as well as myself. We
could not believe that such an ge could
be committed with impunity whilst British
resident remained near the capital. When
we deserted the ominous procession, attend.
ed with native music, passing from The sTn
along the high road close to the residents
gate, we rode to the place of execution
Another scholar oil mine, by name DR.. NJ
F Kay, having beard OF the sad news, pre-.
sented himself on the spot immediately al.
ter Us. After awiting about quarter of an
hour under an outrageous pipal tree on the
bank of the river, the procession arrived
and the Brahmin carriers placed the bier al
the brink of the water, SO as to keep :he
feet of the corpse washed by that element.
The face and hands OF the dead being ex-
posed to view, we found the deceased to
have been strong, well made Brahmin
about forty years OF age. Having examined
the dead man, we proceeded TO the young
lady, who seated herself under another pipal
tree. at a little distance, within sight of the
corpse, read y to immolate herself on the
pile under preparation near the dead body.
She was surrounded by her re elatives, to these
she kept talking, toretelling many things,
on being interrogated. She was handsome.
about fifteen yeas of age, and her charm.
ing countenance showed 70 marks of fear or
anguishe
Lieetehsst Earle being an excellent
Marathi scholar, finding an opportunity, en-
tered into conversation with her, and deIiv-
ered very eloquent speech, dissuading her
mostsearnestly from this hcrrid suicide,
whrh he said he viewed in the light of a
wiltui murder committed by the Brahmins,
whose evil advice, contrary to the pure II in
200 law, enacted her to death of torture
in both worlds. To this her reply was but
short one.
'You may say what you please, bat will
go with my lord. 1t was written in the
book of my fate to be his wife, SO must be
his vile only. to the full extent of the mean
ing, and that of nobody else. loved him
only, and can never love any one else with
that primary sincerity, SO must be his true
companion wherever he goes. Take you no
more trouble, sir, about the matter. Peace
| be with you.'
Lieut. Earle now, at the suggestion of BIZ.
Kay and myself, begged her to listen to
him tor another moment, so she turned to
him, and he further observed as follows:
MY good lady, pray consider over the act
once more, act not against your reason; you
must be sure that we are your friends, and
! not your enemies, that we would save you
from the horrld death, by all means, at
slight signal y your consent, and would
make an honorable provis ,on for you during
your litsC And he added-'Y"u should try
the ex9ament of burning your little finger
befoseseemmltting your whole precious body
10 tHaRames.'
But, alas! her fanaticism had advanced
too lar beyond the reach of this and such
who lesome advice; and, with a scornful
smile, she told Mr.. Earle that she was high
! y obliged to him for his kindness, of which
she did not stand in need; that her word
was one and unalterable. She then, boldly
tearing up a slip of her handkerchief, dipped
ii into the oil of the burning lamp Casually
placed before salts, whether day or night,)
and, tyi g it round her little finger, she
| lighted it up with eagerness. It burnt on
| like a candle for a little while, and then diff
fused the smell of burning flesh, during
which the young beauty talked on to the
audience, without sigh or sob to indicate
the pain; yet the marks Of the blood's rush
to the face, attended with profuse perspira
ton on her brow. betrayed her feeling to
our unbiased mind.
| The fit of this enthusiastic frenzy is aided
and maintained, believe, by the effect OF
some narcotics, particularly OF camphor,
large quantity of which is administered by
the hard-hearted Brahmins to the poor
victims, which is swallowed up by them i'm
mediatey after they have utter their in
tention OF seif-destruction in the sudden i'm
! pulse of grief at their bereavement. The
effect soon spreads over the nervous system,
stupefaction ensues, and the whole body is
benumbed before i, goes to the fire to be
consumed. The pile now being ready, the
corpse was washed and laid inside, and about
half pound of camphor in bundle tied
round the neck Of the damsel; she got up
with her usual alacriiy, invoking her gods,
and rushed to The fatal spot in the same way
as moth to the flame. She then wake
round the pile seven times, and having
entered ii, she placed the head of her dear
husband on her lap, and hersel! holding a
burning wick between the big and second
toes Of her left foot, she then set fire to
; combustibes which were interviewer with
= the logs OF firewood. Upon her entering
the Brahmins began to stop the entrance
with heavy pieces Of timber, when DR.. Kay
} being much excited at the scene, coult
not keep silence any more. Though he
NIT" very liItlc VI VI thC
z he called GU: with as much fierceness as he
could command
r you scoundrels, this is not fair; darwazs
= mat Bholo;' that is to say, do not open th'
: dsor,' of course meaning the reverse.
e Such erroneous expressions of the goo'
g doctor, even at this tragical moment, pro
n duced smile from most of the bystanders
e Immediately the poor woman set fire to tn
e pile, the Brahmlns and others surrsIndils
e it, began shouting out thes name OF the.
god, Rama, and ordered th ket'e-drums
n fageolets, and cymbals thaoaccompanie
y the procession to be beaten and played, an
9 .eht the air with their cries, in order that n
: cfs of distress might be heard from tn
= victim; and as soon as the flames issue
e from all sides, they cut the ropes of tn
four corners of the platform of the pile wit
Ie their hatchets, so tho enormous weight
tho firevood falling at once upOn the del