The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-10-16
Suttee in India.

Suttee, which means the burning OF
women on the funeral pyres OF their de-
ceased husbands, and various other re-
ligious rites of cruel and inhuman
character, have all been suppressed IN
the provinces under the immediate con-
troll of Great Britain; and even In
regions of that vast continent which Lie
beyond the borders of our territory, our
influence has been made use Of to put q
stop to these and similar revolving prac-
tices. It is then with no small surprise
and sorrow we learn that on the death
of Jung Bahadoor, the prime minister OF
the Nepaul government, which took
place last year, three OF his widows were
burned to death on his funeral pyre.
The circumstance naturally gives rise to
the question, as to whether these widows,
and the numerous others who have been
burned to death in days gone by, were
voluntary victims, or were compelled to
sacrifice themselves by the friends of
their deceased husbands.
It is possible that in solitary instances
of this horrible practice, force may have
been resorted to; but the question is
surrounded by circumstances quite po-
tent enough to induce voluntary immo-
lation; and it is therefore not to be won
dered at that the natives of India firmly
assert that among the higher castles, such
as Brahmins, Rajputs and Marathas,
widows are always ready to come forward
and seal their fidelity and devotion to
their deceased husbands by sacrificing
themselves on the funeral pyre. The
Hindoo doctrine of the transmigration of
souls is welded with no small power
and influence by the priests on these oc-
casions. For the soul to have success
sively to tenant the body of some un-
clean beast, some vile bird, some loath.
some reptile, or Isome degraded outcast
of the human family, is not only revolt
ing, but appalling to the mind Of. the
devout Hindoo; and this dire penalty is
held over the head of the bereaved
widow when stunned by sudden calamity
she feels that her earthly hopes are
blasted, and that the dreadful calamity
is sure 10 overtake her in case she re-
fuses to become suttee. Besides she
knows too we'll that lifelong widowhood,
with all it's discomfort, hardship, scorn,
and perhaps disgrace, awaits her, in case
she prefers to survive her husband; and
that not as a penalty for refus-
ing to immediate herself, but as the
natural consequence of the barbarous
and unnatural custom of her people.
On the other hand, she is led by the
priests to believe that by submitting to
become suttee she follows her dear
lord to the realms Of bliss.
As the funeral procession on such oc-
casions is very remarkable, few words
may be said regarding it. The pyre-
consisting of wood or other material,
and straw, according to the means OF the
deceased-having been prepared at the
usual place of cremation, the dead body
of the husband, covered with white
sheet, and decorated with foE ers and
colored saffron, is placed on an open
bier. This is carried on the shoulders
of four bare.headed and nearly naked
men, followed by a fifth carrying a cen
ser with burning incense, from which
the pyre is to be lighted. The wife fol-
lows the bier on foot but before being
led forth, she is attired in costly gar.
ments, decorated with garlands of flow
ers, and feasted with sweetmeats, IN
some of which ingredients OF stupefy-
ing nature ar. mixed, with q view OF
rendering her less sensible than she
otherwise would be to the dreadful suf-
ferings through which she has to pass.
She is accompanied by band of gayly.
dressed dancing-girls, who chant and
dance around her as the procession
moves on, showering flowers on and
occasionally doing obeisance to her as to
deity! A band of noisy musicians
come next, then the friends OF the de-
ceased, and last q crowd Of idle specta-
tors. Arrived at the place Of cremation,
the bier is placed on the pyre ; and the
wife having been assisted to ascend it,
seats herself on the bier, placing the
head of her husband on her lap. These
arrangements having been completed,
the pyre is lighted in several places
and amid the deafening sounds of bar
barous music and the shouts Of the as
sembled crowd, the scene closes. The
screams of the victim, if any, are un-
heard and she soon becomes invisible
and, it is to be hoped, insensible-
in the cloud of smoke which rises from
the burning pyre. After time, the
multitude dispense and when the fire
is burned out, the ashes and any uncon-
sumed parts of the bodies are collected
and thrown into the nearest sacred
stream.-Chamabers' Journal.