Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-08-19
Misttllaneuas Reading,
BURNING WIDOWS.
Probable Origin Of tho Hindoo Gus.

Probable origin OF the ffindoo Gus
tom.
"The -immolation Of widows on
the funeral pile Of their husbands Is a
practice of great antiquity in India, but
it's origin is unknown" said the poet
laureate Of the Pascagoulas last night.
"The natives have a tradition respect
ing it, that 1t arose many years ago.
from the circumstance Of the women
frequently taking away the lives of
their husbands either from dislike or
Inconsistency.
1.-The most excruciating torments be-
ing found inadequate to prevent the
repetition Of this crime, the BrahnIins
directed that the widows should be
burned together with their husbands,
and by this expedient gave them an
interest in the preservation Of the lat
ter. This horrible custom seems to
have been formerly much more general
than 1t is at present; still instances of
this kind are very frequent in the
provinces Of Hindostan, notwithstand-
ing the endeavor of the British govern
ment to put a stop to these horrid
rites. By an account taken In 1903, 1t
appeared that the number Of victims
thus sacrificed during that year with
in thirty miles round Calcutta alone,
was 215: and from another report
made by Hindoos deputed for the pur-
pose we learn that in the six months
Of the year 1904 the number In that
district was lis.
Between Cossimbazar, in Bengal, at
the mouth of the River Hooghly, sew
enty women sacrificed themselves In
two months only Of the year 1872.
leaving behind them 1S4 orphan chill
dren.
"A woman who thus devotes herself
abstains from food as soon as her hus-
band Is dead chewing betel and re-
peating without cessation, the name
of the god of his secret.
when the fatal hour arrives, she
adorns herself with jewels and puts
on her most costly attire, as If she
were going to a rejoicing. She is ac-
companied by her relatives and friends
and by the sound Of drums and trump
cts. The Brahmins, meanwhile, exalt
the Imagination Of the victim by CIV
ing her a liquid in which opium Is
mixed, to drink, and as they draw near
the fatal spot they strive to strength
en- her resolution by songs. In which
they extol her heroism. The widow
must not exhibit any sign Of grief or
dependency as she approaches the
pile; her look must be calm and serene,
and such as becomes one who Is GER
tain that she is about to rejoin her
husband in a happier life. 1t Is af-
firmed that previous to the ceremony
the Brahmins themselves, as we'll as
her relatives and friends, endeavor to
dissuade her from the sacrifice, but
that her resolution once taken Is sa-
cred and inviolable. The day Of this
self-immolation Is a glorious one for
the family of the widow, as we'll as for
her husbands, and for the Brahmins,
who, moreover, derive no trif1ing profit
from the sacrifice.
ANY person is allowed to witness the
spectacle, but at a certain distance.
The victim affectionately embraces her
friends and relatives. among whom she
distributes part of her jewelry and or
naments; she comforts them, while
they bless and entreat her to pray to
God to grant them In like circumstan-
ces the fortitude. which she manifests.
These victims In general meet death
with heroic firmness and constancy,
convinced that in thus burning them
selves from pure conjugal attachment
they shall feel but little pain from the
flames, and that by this sacrifice they
shall deliver their husbands from the
torments Of the next life, whatever
may be the crimes committed by them
in this."-New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat.