The Mineral argus., 1884-03-20

themselves from conjugal attachment
they deliver their husbands from the
torment of the next world, no matter
what crimes they may have committed
in this. Mr. Howell, who was one of
the prisoners in the famous Black Hole
of Calcutta, tells of one Hindoo wild
ow who, on being told the pain she
must suffer, put her finger into the fire
and held it there for considerable time,
after which she put fire on the palm of
her hand, laid incense upon 1t and fun
igated the Brahms who were present.
Forbes, who spent many years in India,
and who wrote Oriental Memoirs" re-
lates the case of female whose hus-
band had amply provided for her, and
which Is unusual among Hindoos, made
her entirely independent of her family
She persisted in her determination to
accompany him to better world, and
suffered not the tears of an aged mother
and the cries of three helpless infants
to divert her from her purpose. The
funeral pyre was erected, an immense
concOurse of people of all ranks assem-
bled and band of music accompanied
the Brahms, who superintendent the
ceremony. The bower of death, en-
wreathed with sacred flowers, was erect
ed over a pile of sandal wood and spices,
on which lay the body of the deceased.
After various ceremonies the music
ceased, and the crowd in solemn silence
awaited the arrival of the heroine.
She approached, accompanied 10y her
mother and three beautiful children,
richly attired, and wearing the hymene-
al crown. an ornament peculiar to
Hindoo bride at her marriage. After
few religious ceremonies the attendants
took off her Jewels anointed her disheve-
led hair with consecrated ghee as also
the skirts offowing robe of yellow mus
lin. Two prattIing babes chung around
her knees to dissuade her from her fatal
purpose, The last pledge of cOnjugal
love was taken from her bosom by her
aged parent, in speechless agony.
Freed from these heartrending mourn
ers the lovely widow, with an air of
solemn majesty, received a lighted torch
from the Brahmins, with whom she
walked seven times around the pyre.
Stopping near the entrance of the bower
for the last time she addressed the fire
and worshiped the other deities, as
prescribed in the Suttee We'd; then, set
ting fire to- her hair and the skirts of
her robe, to- reuder herself the only
brand worthy to light the scared
pyre, she threw away the torch,
rushed into the bower, and embracing
her husband, thus communicated the
flames to the surrounding branches.
The musicians struck UP the loudest
strains, to drown the cries of the victim
should her courage have forsaken her;
but several of the spectators declared that
the serenity of heF countenance and dig
nitv of her behavior surpassed all the
sacrifices of a similar nature they had
ever witnessed.
As polygamy is allowed among the
Hindoos, it frequently happens that
more than one widow immolates herself
on the dead body OF her husband.
One of the most horrible scenes ever
enacted in the east was the burning of
forty-seven widows at once, the wives
of Prince of Marata in 1710. He died
above the age of eighty. A deep circu-
lar pit was dug In a field without the
town : in the middle of it was erected a
pile of wood, on the left Of which, on
a couch richly ornamented, lay the body
of the deceased Prince In his finest
robes. After numberless rites were
performed by the Brahmins the pile was
set on fire and, Immediately, the I'M
happy women appeared, sparkling with
jewels and adorned with flowers. These
victims walked several times around the
burning pyre, the heat of which was
felt quite a distance. The principal
widow, then holding the dagger of her
late husband, thus addressed herself to
the Prince, his successor: Here is
the dagger the. King made use of to
triumph over'his enemies beware never
to employ it to- other purposes, never
imbrue it with the blood of your subjects :;
govern them as father, as he has done,
and you shall live long and happy as he
did. Since he is no more, nothing can
keep me longer in the world. All that
remains for me Is to follow him" With
these words she resigned the dagger
into the Princes hand, who took it from
her without showing the least sign
The Princess now appeared
a Christian woman, had frequently
talked with her upon religion, and
though she never surrendered her idols,
had made some impression on her mind.
Perhaps they now revived. With the
most expressive look she cried out,
"Alas! what is the end of human hap
piness? I know that l shall plunge
myself headlong into hell" On these
words horror was visible on every coun-
tenance, while, resuming courage, she