Arizona silver belt., 1894-07-07
THE SUTTEE.

Hio puiS'lON III tlo lAlSilsu Cdfnp aU tni
 foot of a spur of the Western Ghauti
 when an old sergeant came to announce
 that Punjo native spy, wished tc
 speak with him on urgent business
 A moment later lank, half naked
 Hindoo with crafty look entered noise.
 lessly and prosrated himself
 "Rise, Punjo, said the major in Hin,
 doostanee, and tell me briefly what
 news you bring '"
 'Sahib, replied the spy, 'Punjo is
 the bearer of serious tidings for the Eng
 fish. The young widow of the old Prince
 Rahadoor of Ellora is to be burned on the pyre of her husband tomorrow about sunrise on the plain of Ellora- "
 "Whatl' exclaimed the major, clinch. ing his fist Tin spite of the treaty the
 English have made with the Indian princes for the abolition of the suttoe? And how far is the plain of Ellora from here?'
 By the mountain paths q quick foot could reach there between the rising of tonight's moon and the morrow s dawn
 "A rabble, said the English officer, with a sheer, "who will be frightened to death at the mere sight of few hun. dred English bayonets and redcoatSl But how do the priests dare to undertake this ceremony almost under our very noses? It must be they have not yet learned of our presence here.
 They have told the people that de. spite the treaty you dare not interfere; that you dare not thus bid defiance tc their gods"
 ''We shall see" muttered the English officer
 With the rising of the moon the Eng fish moved out of their camp, their heavy tread rumbling in the still air Punjo, the spy, led the way as guide.
 Toward daybreak they came in' sight of the plain of Ellora.
 Halting his troops, the major, accom- panied by the spy aud a few of his men, advanced to reconnoiter
 The waning moon cast faint light over tho plain To the south dark mass rose against the sky. This, Punjo said, was the funeral pile, guarded by a few fanatics, lest the beasts of prey should attack old Rahadoor's body, which was to have been placed there at nightfall of the previous day.
 To the left, about a hundred yards from the pile, upon knoll, loomed up q heap of ruins, the remains of the once magnificent pagoda of Ellora
 There, ' said tho major pointing to the crumbling structure, is an excel lent place for me to conceal my men till the moment for action comes. Mean. while we must surprise these fanatics, who would doubtless be highly delight ed to be able to inform the people of FL lora of our presence and so thwart our purpose The rascals, overcome by their religious frenzy and vigil, are probably fast asleep, aud so will fall into our hands without bloodshed Go cautiously Punjo. with my men aud SC. cure them.
 The order was easily executed, for the fanatics were asleep, as the major had surnised, and were disarmed and seized before they could think of offer Ing any resistance
 The next step was to secrete the regi- ment in the immense ruins
 Dawn was beginning to show itself llong the horizon when there came to .he ears of the eager watchers a sound IS of faroff clamor.
 Tt is they, D said the spv.
 Led by hundred Brahman priests in heir robes of ceremony, their shaven heads uncovered, some carrying flaming ,orches, the natives slowly advanced, he air echoing with their acelamations
 In their midst, surrounded by a crowd # bowling fanatics, plodded q gorgeous J caparisoned elephant, upon whose pack sat young woman clad in white md covered with sparkling gems.
 This was the hapless suttee, old Ra- iadoor's widow And not only was she 'ery consequently not over 16-- ,ut she was very beautiful, truly ray. shing creature The severe fast which he Brahman priests imposed upon the uttee had not perceptibly narred her ,eauty. Her black eyes, though dimlned y suffering, had not lost all their Jus. CT, and her pale face wore an indescrib- .bly sad and sweet expression.
 When the foot of the pyre was reach | d, hush came over the multitude, and | handsome young priest, stepping from he ranks of his colleagues, walked back. | yard towhere the elephant had stopped | nd spoke to the young woman
 She started at the sound of his voice, | $ if from a dream, rose, looked about er moment in confusion, then de. cended the short ladder placed against be animals side.
 When she reached the ground, tho oung priest took her gently by the arm nd delivered her into the hands of some 1omen, who began to strip her of her swels and outer garments and loosened CT luxuriant black hair, which fell in lossy waves to her feet, leaving her nally standing there, abashed and be- with nothing to cover her na. edness but thin silken undergarmens Then the young priest once more ap- reached her and conducted her to the ile amid the shouts of the people and owls of the fanatics, who in their re- gious exaltation began to slash their aked bodies with knives,
 At the foot of the pyre hoary Brah. ian held out to her lighted torch, nth which she was to, set fire to the reat heap before stretching herself by ne side of her husbands body.
 Rahadoor's widow took the torch, with sweet smtle, and waving her hand to- rard the people in token of last fare 'ell bravely placed one foot on the first 'ep of the flight leading up to the old Lindoo's couch.
 At that moment bugle blast rang