Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-06-19
Alisfella,eoms Reaoi,,e.
A HindOO Sacrifice.

a Hindoo woman, on the funeral pile of her
husband. is an extract of letter from a
young lady in Calcutta, to her friends in this
country. The writer is native of Pitts
field, Mass, where her parents now reside.
Calcutta, June, l8-.
al open my letter, my dearest friends, to
tell you l have witnessed one of the most
extraordinary and horrid scenes ever per-
formed by human beings: namely, the self |
immolation of woman on the funeral pile |
Of her husband. The dreadful sacrifice |
has made an impression on my mind, that |
years will not efface. thank my God that |
was born in Christian land, and instruc-
ted in Christian religion.
"This event is so recent, can hardly
compose myself sufficient to relate it. Last
night l could not close my eyes, nor could ]
drive this martyred woman from my recol-
lection. ] am almost sick to-day, and am
sure you will not wonder at il. But this
ceremony is so much celebrated, and by my
countrymen so much doubted, that was
resolved to see if such deeds could be-
have seen; and the universe would not
induce me to be present on a similar occa-
sion-I cannot realize what have seen
it seems like horrid dream.
Yesterday morning, at seven o'clock,
this woman was brought in palanquin, to
the place of sacrifice. 1t is on the banks
of the Ganges, only two miles from Cal
cutta. Her husband had been previously
brought to the river TO expire. His dsor-
der was hydrophobia--Q think of the agony
this must have occasioned him. He had
now been dead twenty-four hours, and no
Iperson could prevail on the wife TO save
herself. She had three children, whom she
committed to the care Of her mother. A
woman, called TO be undertaken, was pre-
pairing the pile. II was composed of bam-
boo, firewood, oils, rosin, and kind OF flax,
altogether very combustable. 1t was ele-
waited above the ground, should say twenty
inches, and supported by strong stakes
The dead body was lying on rude couch,
very near, covered with white CLOTH
The Oldest child, boy of seven years, who
was to light the pile, was standing Eear the
corpse. The woman sat perfectly unmoved
during all the preparation; apparently at
prayer, and counting string of beads,
which she held in her hand. She was just
thirty years old; her husband twenty-seven
years older.
"The government threw every obstacle
in the way of this procedure. They were
not strong enough TO resort TO violent meas
ures to prevent this abominable CUSTOM
Nothing but our religion can abolish it, and
do not believe there is single particle OF
Christianity in the breast of a single native
in all India.
"These obstacles delayed the ceremony
until five O'Clock, when the permit from one
of the chief judges arrived. Police officers
were stationed to prevent anything like com
pusion, and to secure the woman, at the
last moment, should she desire it. The
corpse was now placed in an upright pos
ture, and clean linen bound around the head
and about the waist. Water was thrown
over it by the child, ard afterward, oil by
the Brahmins. 1t was then placed upon
the pile, upon the left side. The woman
now left the planquin, and walked into the
river, supported by her brothers, who were
lagitated, and required more support thar
, herself She was divested of all her orna
ments; her hair hanging dishelved abou
her face, which expressed perfect resigna
ton. Her forehead and feet were stainee
with deep red. She bathed in the river
{ and drank a little water, which was the
, only nourishment she received after hel
. husbands death. An oath was administer
ed by the attending Brahmins, which is done
by putting the head in water, and repeating
from the Shaster few lines. The oatt
was given seven times.
Z" l forgot TO say the child received an oatl
s before the corpse was removed. The broth
ers also prayed over the body, and sprink
: led themselves with consecrated water.-
. She tLen adjusted her own dress, which
e consisted OF long clothes wrapped arount
her form, and partly over her head, but no
: so as to conceal her face. She had in he
hand little box, containing parting gifts
which she presented to her brothers, and t
the BrahmiDs, with great composure. Re
strings were then fastened round her wrists
Her child now put a little rice in her mouth
which was the last thing she received
She raised her eyes to heaven severs
+ times, during tbs river ceremonies, whic
occupied ten or twenty minutes. She tool
no notice Of her child having taken leav
of her female friends and children early i
the morning. A little cup of consecrate
rice was placed by the child at the head {
the corpse. She now walked to the pill,
and bent with lowly reverence over the fec
:, of her husband, then, unaided, she passe
three times around the pile. She now seen
ed excited by enthusiasm some said of
religious nature, others, of affection for th
dead. do not pretend to say what motiv
aided her; but she stepped up the pi
with apparent delight, unassisted by an
: one, and threw herself by the side of ii
body, clasping his neck with her arms
The corpse was in the most horrid putri
= state. She mt her face close 10 his. COZ