Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-01
QUEER CUSTOM or INDIA.
Origin Of the Practice Of Self-Immo-
lation Of Widows at Hus-
bands Death.

'Theself-immolatio Of the widows ON
the funeral pile Of their husbands is n
practice Of great antiquity In India. but
its origin Ii unknown" says writer
In the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
1.-THE natives have a tradition respecting
It, that 1t arose many years ago, from
the circumstances of the women fire.
quently taking away the lives Of their
husbands either from dislike or incon-
stancy. The most excruciating tor
ments being found inadequate to pre-
vent the repetition Of this crime, the
Bramins directed that the widows
should be burned together with their
husbands and by this expedient gave
them an interest in the preservation Of
the latter. This horrible custom seems
to have been formerly much more gen.
eral than It 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, It ap-
peared that the number Of victims thus
sacrificed during that year, within 80
miles around Calcutta alone, was 275;
and from another report made by Hin
docs deputed for the purpose we learn
that in six months of the year 1904 the
number in that district was 115. Be-
tween Cossimbazar, in Bengal, and the
mouth of the River Hooghly 10 women
sacrificed themselves in two months
only of the year 1879, leaving behind
them 1874 orphan children. A woman
who thus devotes herself abstains from
food as soon as her husband is dead,
chewing betel and repeating without
cessation the name Of the god Of his
sect. 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 accom-
panied by her relatives and friends, and
by the sound Of drums and trumpets.
The Bramins, meanwhile, ezalt the
Imagination of the victim by giving her
D liquid in which opium is mixed to
drink; and as they draw near the fatal
spot they strive to strengthen her res
olution by songs in which they extol
her heroism.
1.-THE widow must not exhibit any
sign of grief or dependency as she ap-
proaches the pile; her look must be calm
and serene and such as becomes one
who is certain that she IL about to re-
Join her husband in a happier life.
1t is affirmed that previously to the GER
emony the Bramins themselves, as well
Is her relatives and friends, endeavored
to dissuade her from the sacrifice, but |
that her resolution once taken is sacred
and inviolable. The day Of this self
Is glorious one for the
'amily of the widow. as well as for her
and for the Bramins, who,
derive no trifling profit from
the ceremony. Any person is allowed to
witness the spectacle, but at certain
distance. The victim affectionately en-
,races her friends and relatives, among
whom she distributes part Of her jew
slry and ornaments; she comforts them,
while they bless and entreat her to pray
o God to grant them in like circum-
stances the fortitude which she mani
ests. These victims in general meet
leath with heroic frmness and con-
fancy; convinced that in thus burning
themselves from pure conjugal attach
nent they shall feel but little pain from
he flames, and that by this sacrifice they
hall deliver their husbands from the
Of the next life, whatever may
10 the crimes committed by them In
his"