The Ladies' Garland

THE TRAVELLER.
HINDOO WIDOWS.
EXTRACT FROM BERNIER'S TRAVELS.

"In regard to the women, who actually burn themselves, I was present at so many of those shocking exhibitions, that I could not persuade myself to attend any more; nor is it without a feeling of horror that I revert to the subject. I shall endeavor, nevertheless, to describe what passed before my eyes; but I cannot hope to give you an adequate conception of the fortitude displayed by those infatuated victims during the whole of the frightful tragedy: it must be seen to be believed. When travelling from Ahmedabad to Agra, through the territories of Rajah-, and while the caravan halted in a town under the shade until the cool of the evening, news reached us that a widow was on the point of burning herself with the body of her husband. I ran at once to the spot, and going to the edge of a large and nearly dry reservoir, observed, at the bottom, a deep pit filled with wood; the body of a dead man extended thereon; a woman seated upon the same pile: four or five brahmins setting fire to it in every part: five middle aged women, tolerably well dressed, holding one another by the hand, singing and dancing round the pit; and a great number of spectators of both sexes. The pile, whereon large quantities of butter and oil had been thrown, was soon enveloped in flames, and I saw the fire catch the woman's garments, which were impregnated with scented oil, mixed with sandal rach and saffron powder; but I could not perceive the slightest indication of pain, or even uneasiness in the victim, and it was said that she pronounced with emphasis the words five, six; to signify that this being the fifth time she had burned herself for the same husband, there wanted only two more similar sacrifices to render her perfect, according to the doctrine of the transmigration of souls: as if a certain reminiscence, or prophetic spirit, had been imparted to her at that moment of her dissolution. But this was only the commencement of the infernal tragedy: I thought that the singing and dancing of the five women were nothing more than some unmeaning ceremony. Great, therefore, was my astonishment, when I saw that the flames having ignited the clothes of one of these females, she cast herself headforemost into the pit. This horrid example was followed by another woman as soon as the flames caught her person. The three women who remained, then took hold of each other by the hand, resuming the dance with perfect composure; and after a short lapse of time, they all precipitated themselves, one after the other, into the fire. I soon learnt the meaning of these multiplied sacrifices. The five women were slaves, and having witnessed the deep affection of their mistress, in consequence of the illness of her husband, whom she promised not to survive, they were so moved with compassion that they entered into an engagement to perish by the same flames that consumed their beloved mistress. As I was leaving Surat for Persia, I witnessed the devotion and burning of another widow: several Englishmen and Dutchmen, and Mr. Chardin, of Paris, were present. She was of the middle age, and by no means uncomely. I do not aspire, with my limited powers of expression, to convey a full idea of the brutish boldness or ferocious gaiety depicted on this woman's countenance; of her undaunted step; of the freedom from all perturbation with which she conversed, and permitted herself to be washed; of the look of confidence, or rather of conscious superiority, which she cast upon us; of her easy air, free from all restraint; of her lofty carriage, void of concern, when she was examining her little cabin imposed of dry and thick millet straw, with an intermixture of small wood: when she entered into that cabin, sat down upon the funeral pile, placed her deceased husband's head in her lap, took up a torch, and, with her own hand, lighted the fire within, while I know not how many brahmins were busily engaged in kindling it without. Well, indeed, may I despair of representing this whole scene with proper and genuine feeling, such as I experienced at the spectacle itself, or of painting it in colors sufficiently vivid. My recollection of it, indeed, is so vivid, that it seems only a few days since the horrid reality passed before my eyes.
And with pain I persuaded myself that it was anything but a frightful dream.

At Lahore I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more than 12 years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit. The agony of her mind cannot be described. She trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the brahmins, assisted by an old woman, who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim towards the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive."