AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1563-8.. 



cleere of theeves, which at that time ranged up and 

 downe. And in the time I rested there, I saw many 

 strange and beastly deeds done by the Gentiles. First, 

 when there is any Noble man or woman dead, they 

 burne their bodies : and if a married man die, his wife 

 must burne herselfe alive, for the love of her husband, 

 and with the body of her husband : so that when any 

 man dieth, his wife will take a moneths leave, two or 

 three, or as shee will, to burne her selfe in, and that day 

 being come, wherein shee ought to be burnt, that morn- 

 ing shee goeth out of her house very earely, either on 

 horsebacke or on an eliphant, or else is borne by eight 

 men on a smal stage : in one of these orders she goeth, 

 being apparelled like to a Bride, carried round about 

 the City, with her haire downe about her shoulders, 

 garnished with jewels and flowers, according to the 

 estate of the party, and they goe with as great joy as 

 Brides doe in Venice to their nuptials : shee carrieth 

 in her left hand a looking glasse, and in her right hand 

 an arrow, and singeth thorow the City as she passeth, 

 and sayth, that she goeth to sleepe with her deere spowse 

 and husband. She is accompanied with her kindred 

 and friends untill it be one or two of the clocke in the 

 afternoone, then they goe out of the City, and going 

 along the rivers side called Nigondin, which runneth 

 under the walles of the City, untill they come unto a 

 A discription place where they use to make this burning of women, 

 of the burning being widdowes, there is prepared in this place a great 

 ^^'^^' square cave, with a little pinnacle hard by it, foure or 



five steppes up : the foresayd cave is full of dried wood. 

 The woman being come thither, accompanied with a 

 great number of people which come to see the thing. 

 Feasting and then they make ready a great banquet, and she that 

 dancing zvhen ghall be burned eateth with as great joy and gladnesse, 



t ey s ou ^^ thoup;h it were her weddino; day : and the feast beine^ 

 mourne. 111 i • i • • • 



ended, then they goe to dancing and singmg a certeine 



time, according as she will. After this, the woman of 



her owne accord, commandeth them to make the fire 



384 



