The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-04
HUMAN sACRIFICES!
The Hindo,tsn Tribe who Worship Priests
Their Unnatural Rites.

ff0sr TIE 1NDes or Indtd.
In the early portion OF the present year
II was brought to the notice Of the Government
that infanticidc and secret murder prevailed
to a considerable extent among the tribe OF alb
originals known Brinjaries who reside on
tho borders Of Hyderabad nd the Contr i Prov
inces. Spreading moth and south Of he bound
AIRY, many Of them have their homes in the ter.
rItory OF the Nizam, and others In the Central
Provinces, but nearly thrre-fourths OF their
time /. occupied in Carrying grain and salt
about the country. Their social characteristics
are somewhat peculiar, and they seem to re-
tain some OF the most ancient forms OF super
sutiOus belief. Idolatry Ia unknown among
1anda, has nigh priest, who, Ike the Llama OF
Thibet, 7 the moie ancient chief Of the BaDv-
alteration. The societies into which the
tribe is thus dIylIed travel about
GanJ.m dstricts to the Hyder,b bad territory
and Central Provinces each phest accom- pany-
ins the society uf when he Is the SD ritih head
lie leads very Reserved, Contetnplative, ind
sacred life, CRYING sirICt ceIibacy. The in
nuenee exercised ny him Is, Of oourSe, very con-
siderable, ms lie Is believed % be Omnicient. nd
any tr nsgression OF mis- wish Is supposed TO In.
vOlve Dunishn ent IN this and In tue world to
come. Whatever idea ~ future state and Of a
\ preme being they may possess, " does not
interfere with the religious worship with which
each rest IL regarded. 1he OnJe. Il the sew
eral groups In winch the triDe Is divided Is not
definitely understood, but their origin IL very
likely the necessity experienced BY such peoule
travelling IN nds' aud the c9nseque.t as,9c,a-
to the insti luton. Esch band thus forms q
small travelling community, with lts he'd
quarters at village which 10 visited once or
twice "a year, the memUers uf which have
common interest In the u.fc In salt, wheat
&c., wbicb thev carry on between the coast
countries and the interior. Tnis representa-
tDeir sole means Of livelihood, as they are not
regarded ~ u turbulent Or dishonest trioe. Tho
earthly wants OF tue sHceIdo,al ONCE are OF
course but fow, and these aro supplied by the
people. The rest In return prophecies, grants
prayers, and buuish,s and Processes to perform
a number OF other divine duties. As II very fire.
quently happens, however, that these prophe-
always had to the excuse OF counter.Cting evil
influences, which IL sid to be represented py
some unfortunate victim, who Is not however
sacrificed as ~ Druidi al days, but Ia simply de-
sirUyed. because he is supposed to be the iDcar-
nation OF some evIlpOwtr.
On the noui uinluient u a prophecy. the failure
OF crop, the apprOach Of pestilence. or the eyi-
deuce Of any misfortune, the priest Is imme-
uiately resOrted to, who, after pretended nedi.
tatiOn. oracui rly si1ulDes certain individual
Of the ,rDe as being the responsible cause OF
the evil. The person implicated Is. Of course,
Immediately regarded as the enemy Of commu-
nity. aud Is SUNNI rily sentenced to d attn by
the unanimous voice II tue people, VINO regard
the opinion vi the pfiest AS bnal and emphatic
The rel tives OF the victim are hen called upon
to deliver him up, and OF course readily do so,
rs any opposition woul,i incur divine displeas-
ure, VIII, h, under such circumstance, would
be con ,idered equivalent to tue disposal Of nalf
a dozen u, her lives.
IL tue victim happens'to he ian of respecia-
biity, his relatives prefer taking tue execution
into their own hands, aud uepute one Of their
own number to either benead, strange, or spear
indiydudl Of ordinary rank. he Is surrendered
to the assembly, who commission certain num-
Ter to execute tae sentence. these exec atone
are carried out with tue u most secrecy, and the
relatives of the deceased as well as all members
II the lauda, preserve the most ecTupulous
silence on the subject. No one uares uiyulge 1t,
aud those -idin9 in tho LOCALITY In which the
deed Is comuiitted II ever they cl-nce g. meet
VITA evidence OF the murder, are too ignorant
and too .pathe ic to take any serious notice Of
mater. Ihis lreseryalOu OF secrecy, although
IL NAV have hitherto been successful. suggests
that these aCoDie are not Quite ignorant OF the
adherence with winch sucn crimes are regard
eu by all enlightened Goyernn'e nt. Tue q liga-
ton, however seems t. be growing lighter and
less respected, ana we trust The Government
Will soon De able TO interfere with advantage.
As re-arus infanticide, 1t Is Iretty generally
known that these people are averse to having
more than one or two female children, ana that
consequent this crime prevails among them to
cons siderable extent. The usual cduse Is
assigned. that OF tue expense which the mar
RI. &c OF gIrl Involves Government has
called upon the police Department take
steps In the matter, and as the Brinjaries are
not wilu and untractaole tribe, II Is probable
we shall soon hear VI the suppression VI these
~. ctices. Fir Richard Me ,ue will hnd scope
here for his energy, and we sball 40 douut learn
something more VI these people In his next AL
uual report.