Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-01-19
Tho Hindoc Suttee.

DO seen Two snaal t0mps on the banks OF
n small lake containing the holy ashes
OF young lady who burned herself alive
on the funeral pyre Of her deceased hus-
band The name of the husband Of the
lady was Brahamand Gossain, and he
died of fever in the morning. She wept
not, but sat by the body Of her dead hus-
band. How we wished that she could
give vent to her feelings and relieve
herself. But no, she sat and uttered
neither sigh nor a groan. At last she
rose and proceeded strnightway toward
the Tkakoor Baree TO the image of the
god Krishna. There she went, followed
by many men and women, and pros
trated herself before the god Then she'
stood and began to divest herself of the
ornaments she had on her person. One
by one she took them and placed them
at the foot of the god, for the first time
speaking: Here, my Lord, take them;
l need them no longer" And then she
slowly came back to where the body OF
her husband was being covered. She
then addressed her brotber-in-law, and
she said: prepare for the ceremony
of cremation, and you know can't
live without him." Though her rela.
tions, friends and neighbors had all sus-
pected that something serious was inn
pending, thefirst announcement was re-
ceived with a shock which could not be
described. Then followed discussions,
and her friends, relations and neighbors
all began to dissuade her to no purpose.
The uncle-in-law, the. mother-in-law,
whom q Hindoo lady is bound to revere
next to her God, commanded and then
earnestly pleaded to her to forbear; bui
she was not to be moved. Then came
the guroo, the purohit, whom, as her
spiritual guides, she was bound to obey
They tried their best, but she was deter
mined. Time rolled on, and she wavered
not for moment. Then the last device
was resorted to. Her fears were ap-
pealed to; they described to her the
horrible and painful sufferings of living
man upon funeral pile. AT first she
disdained to give replies to their appeals
to her fears, but at last, when obliged to
say something, she said: "You need
not be anxious; mysoul has fled with my
lord. As for bodily sufferings shall
show you that L need not apprehend
them" g ...,. ..a,. .... ..- .eE nj
There was lamp burning, under tho
usual custom by the corpse, and she put
one of her fingers upon the slow fire of
the lamp, and burnt it without wincing
Crowds had then collected from all
parts of the country. 1t was then about
four p. M, and the corpse was carried
to the burning CHAT on the bank of the
small lake, only about a couple of hun
dred yards from the house, and the lady
followed, followed by thousands OF men
chanting 'Haribole. The crowd then
began to collect dry fagots, and heaps
were gathered in a moment. While the
funeral pile was in the process of being
prepared the corpse was bathed, and
the lady herself performed her ablu-,
tions. She then put vermilion on her
forehead, and dressed herself in new
Saree (cloth forladies), and then slowly
entered the funeral pile. Her hair was
properly adjusted by her friends, and
they adorned her with garlands and
wreaths of flowers. The crowd then
with fearful eyes begged of her bless
ings and some tokens from her to be
kept in remembrance of her self-sacri-
flee. She was supplied with cowries,
plantains, betelnuts, etc., and she began
to throw .handfuls of them among the
crowd. She then laid herself by the
Col PSF VI hCi luopaEu III tliC pOiotulCOl
warm embrace. She gave the order,
and the pile was lighted in several
places, and there was at once blazing
fire. The Suttee raised her right hand
and began to utter the name of Horee,
turning her hand round and round.
She was dead before the fire had reached
her sacred person. ... ...... ..
Thus a Hindoo widow ended her life
on the funeral pyre of her husband.
Hel husband was dead and the world ap-
peared to her dreary waste. She was
determined to follow her lord to the un-
known world, undeterred by the solicit
tations of her friends and relations of
worldly pleasures. Her fears were ap-
pealedto, butin vain. She felt she could
not live moment without her lord;
she must accompa, him; and, under
the influence of this Overwhelming inn
pulse, she entered the flames without
the least display of fear, and with an
alacrity which surpasses all description.
We ask, who can contemplate this. spirit
stirring scene, this wondrous spectacle
without feeling sort of veneration for
the lady who thus offered herself as a
sacrifice on the altar of connubial dutyp
May her spirit rest in peace, and from
its place in the heavens shed light upon
her surviving brothers and sisters, and
upon her countrymen, and inspire them
with courage in the accomplishment Of
their ends in life.- Calcutta Bengalee.
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