She was then
commanded to walk three times around it, two of her nearest relations
supporting her by the arms. The first round she accomplished with
tottering steps; but in the second, her strength forsook her, and she
fainted away in the arms of those who were holding her. They were
obliged to drag her between them for the third round. Then senseless,
she was thrown upon the corpse of her husband. At that instant, the
multitude made the air to ring with their shouts of gladness, while the
Brahmins poured the butter on the dry wood, and applied the torches.
Instantly the whole pile was in a blaze.
As soon as the flames began to rage, the poor woman, now in the midst of
them, was called upon by name, from all sides; but as insensible as the
corpse on which she lay, she made no answer. She entered eternity,
suffocated at once, most probably, by the flames.
The second case of suttee which I shall mention took place at the death
of the rajah, or king of Tanjore. He left behind him four wives.
The Brahmins having determined that two of these four should be burned
with the corpse of their husband, and having selected the two whom they
thought best to sacrifice, they told them of what awaited them.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121