The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-04
TOUR OF THE WORLD
EIGHTY DAYS.
JULES vEHNEs GREAT STORY.
CHAPTER xII.-cosrlsuED.

tated themselves under the wheels OF
the ear of Juggernaut.
Behind them, some Brahmins, in all
the magnilicence of their Oriental CO.'S
tune, were dragging woman who
could hardly hold herself erect.
This woman was young, and as fair as
a European Her head, her neck, her
shoulders, her ears. her arms, hsr hands
and her toes were loaded down with
Jewels, necklaces. bracelets, earrings
and finger-rings. A bInic, embroidered
with gold, covered with light muslin,
displayed the outlines OF her form.
Behind this young woman "A violent
contrast for the eyes-were guards,
armed with naked sabers fastened to
their girdles and long damaskeened
pistols, carrying a-eorpse upon palan-
quin.
1t was the body of an old man, dressed
in the rich garments of Rajah, having,
as in life, his 'turban embroidered with
pearls, his robe woven of silk and gold,
his sash OF cashmere ornamented with
diamonds, and his magnificent arms rs
an Indian Prince.
fanatics, whose cries sometimes drowned
the deasening noise of the Instruments,
closed up the cortege.
Sir Francis Cromarty looked at all this
pomp with singularly sad air, and,
turning to the guide, he said:
"A suttee'
The Parsee made an affirmative sign
and pat his fingers on his lips. The
long procession slowly came out from
the trees, and soon the last of it disap-
pearcd in the depths of the forest.
Little by little the chanting died out.
There were still the sounds of distant
cries, and finally profound silence sue
ceeded all this tumult.
Phileas Fogg had heard the word ut
tered by Sir Francis Cromarty, and, as
soon as the procession had disappeared,
| he asked:
what is u sutteeP"
ga suffice, Mr. Fogg," replied the
Brigadier-General, is human sacrifice,
but voluntary sacrifice. The woman
that you have Just seen will be burned
tomorrow in the early part of the
day."
"Oh the villainsl' cried Passepar-
tout, who could not prevent this cry of
indignation.
sand this corpse?n asked Mr.. Fogg.
at is that of the Prince, her hus-
band" replied the guide, ian indie
pendent Rajah of Bundelcund.
How" replied Phileas Fogg, with
out his voice betraying the least emo
ton, "do these bsrbarous customs still
exist in India, and have not the English
been able TO extirpate themP"
SIN the largest part of India" re-
piled Sir Francis Cromarty, these
sacrifices do not come to pass; but we
have no influence over these wild coun-
tries. and particularly over this terri
tory of Bundelcund. All the northern
slope of. the Vindbhs is the scene OF
murders and incessant robberies."
1.-The unfortunate woman" MUIR
INJURED Passepartout, burned aliven'
Yes" replied the General, burn
ed, and if she was not you would not
believe to what a miserable condition
she would be reduced by her near rela-
tives. They would shave her hair; they
would scarcely feed her with few
handsful of rice; they would repulse
| her; she would be considered as an I'M
clean creature, and would die in some
corner like a sick dog. So. that the
prospect of this frightful existence fire.
quently drives these unfortunates 10 the
sacrifice much more than love OF relig-
ious fanaticism. Sometimes, however,
the sacrifice is really voluntary and the
energetic intervention of the Govern
ment is necessary to prevent it. Some
years ago | was living at Bombay,
when a young widow came to the Gov
ernor to ask his authority for her to be
burned with the body of her husband.
As you may think, the Governor re-
fused. Then the widow left the city,
took refuge with an independent Rajah,
and there she accomplished the sacri-
fee"
During the narrative of the General,
the guide shook his head. and when he
was through, said:
1.-The sacrifice which takes place to-
morrow is not voluntary"
How do you know?''
"It is story which everybody in
Bundelcund knows" replied the guide.
but this unfortunate did not seem
to make any resistance" remarked SiI
Francis Cromarty.
Because she was intoxicated with
the fumes of hemp and opium"
"But where are they taking herr"
"To the pagoda of Pillaii. two miles
from here. There she will pass the
night in waiting for the sacrifice"
'sAnd this sacrifice will take
plaee?-"
cat the first appearance OF day."
After this answer the guide brought
the elephant out of the dense thicket
and jumped on his neck. But at the
moment that he was going to start him
off by peculiar whistle Mr.. Fogg
stopped him, and, addressing Sir Francis
Cromarty, said: " If we could save this
womanr'
| "Save this woman. Mr.. Foggr' cried
the Brigadier-Gener
Il have still twelve hours to spare.
! can devote them to her.
"Why you are a man of heart" said
Sir Francis Cromarty.
Sometimes, /" replied Phileas Fogg,
simply, when have time. "