American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-09-10
TOUR OF THE WORLD IN
EIGHTY DAYS.
JULES vERSE's GREAT STORY.
CHAPTER XIL-CoSrrxuEp.

Around the statue there was grou
of old fakirs jumping and tossing them
selves about conyulsnely. Smeare
with tanCs OF ocher. covered with cross
like cuts, whence their blood escape
drop by drop-stupid fanatics, who, il
the great Hindoo ceremonies. precipi
tated themselves under the wheels @
the car OF Juggeruaut.
Beh nd them, some BrahminS, in a.
the magniEcence of their Oriental COS
tune. were dragging a woman VIII
could hardly hold herself erect,
his woman was young. and as fair a
a European. Her head. her neck. he
shoulders. her ears. her arms. her hand
and her toes were loaded down witt
Jewels, necklaces. bracelets, earring
and finger-rings. A tunic. embroidere,
with gold, covered with light muslin
displayed the outlires OF her form.
Behind this young woman "a violen
contrast for the eyes were guards
armed with naked sabers fastened t,
their girdles and long sdamaskeenet
pistols. carrying corpse upon-a palan
quin.
1t was the body of an old man. dressed
in the rich garments OF a Rajah. having
rs in life, his turban embroidered witt
pearls, his robe woven OF silk and gold
his sash OF cashmere ornamented will
diamonds, and his magnificent arms al
an indian Prince.
Then, musicians and a rearguard O
fanatics, whose essometimes drowned
the deafening noi.e of the instruments
closed up the cortege.
Sir Francis Cromarty looked at all thi:
pomp with a singulariy sad air, and
turning to the guide. he said:
"A suttee."
The Parsee made an affirmative sign
and put his fingers on his lips. The
long procession slowly came out from
the trees, and soon the last of it disap.
peared in the depths of the forest.
Little by little the chanting died out.
There We're still the sounds of distant
cries and finally profound silence sue
ceeded all this tumult.
-Phileas Eogg had heard the word ut
tered by Sir Francis Cromarty, and, as
soon as the procession had disappeared,
he asked:
"Wbat is suttee?'
"a suffice, Mr. Fogg," replied the
Brigadier-General,i is a human sacrifice
but a voluntary sacrifice. The woman
that you have Just seen will be burned
tomorrow in the early part of the
day."
"Oh the villains." cried Passepar-
tout, who could not prevent this cry of
indignation.
And this corpseP' asked Mr.. Fogg.
cit is that of the Prince. her hus-
band" replied the guide, ian indie
pendent Rajah of Bundelcund. I'd
How" replied Fhileas FoSg, with
out his voice betraying the least emo
ton, "do these barbarous customs still
exist in India, and have not the English
been able To extirpate them?'
81 In the largest part of India" re-
piled Sir Francis Cromarty, these
sacrifices do not come to pass; but we
tries. and particularly over this terri
slope of the Vindbias is the scene of
murders and incessant robberies."
1.-The unfortunate woman" MUIR
INJURED Passepartout, burned alive"
Yes" re lied the General, :. burn
ed, and if she was not you would not
believe to what a miserabloH oQpdition
tives. They would shave her l3ir; -
handsful of rice; tkoy would El<
bCA chC DC
clean creature. and wouid ~ ~ 1clao
corner like sick do - - IL
prospect Of this frightfu7 Gz<1f o10o 1f15
quently drives these unf0ffunE1 ~ 16f1n
sacrifice much more than love - fSl
ious fanaticisfn. Sometimes, boW6vGF.
the sacrifice is really voluntary and the
energetic Intervention of the Governs
ment is necessary to prevent il Some
years ago L was living at Bombay,
when a young widow came to the Sow
ernor to ask his authority for her TO be
burned with the body ~ her husband.
As you may think. the Governor ~
fused. Then the widow left the city,
took refuge with an independent Rajah,
aud shseo 80 scsomplished the sscri-
fec
Durine the narrative OF the General
tho gui11 shook his head. and when he
W. tEEDuEh, said:
&C. - osorifico which takes place to-
morzow &pot voluntary" "a I
= How 10 you knowr' 9 =
. n r a story which everybody in
Bdnl1ecund Knows" replied the guide
"Bnt this unfortunate did not seem
to make any resistance" remarked Sir
Francis Cromarty.z
:. because she was intoxicated with
the fumes Of hemp and opium
But where are they taking her?"
ITO the pagoda Of Pillaji. two miles
from here. There she will pass the
night in waiting for the sacrifice
land this sacrifce will take
"At the first apPea<snce Of day."
the elephant out Of the dense thicket.
and jumped on his neck. But at the
moment that he was going to start him
off bv a peculiar whistle Mr.. Fogg
stopped him. and, addressing Sic Francis
Cromarty, said: :. If we could save this
womanr'
Save this woman. Mr.. Foggr' cried
the Brigadier- General
II have still twelve hours to spare.
/ can devote them to her"
why you are a man of hearth said
Sir Francis Cromarty.
Sometimes" replied Phileas Fogg.
simply, .'when have time.
CHAPTER Kill
IN WHICH PAssEPARToUr PROVES AGAIN THAT
YoHTUSE SMILES uros THE BOLD.
The design was bold, full of Difficult
ties. perhaps impractieable. Mr.. Fogg
was going to risk his lie. or at least
his liberty. and. consequently, the sue
cess of his plans, but he did not hesi-
tate. He found. besides. a decided ANY
in Sir Francis Cromarty.
As to Passepartout, he was ready and
could be depended upon. His masters
idea excited him. He felt that there
was a heart and soul under this icy COW
er ng. He almost loved Phleas Fogg
Then there was the guide. What
part would he take In the matter?
Would he not be Within Indians? In
d,fault of his aid, it was at least neces-
sary to be sure his neutrahty.