THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. IO3 



there were pieces of aloe ; it was about six feet high and 

 square. After the prayers of the Brahmins and Gooroos, 

 which lasted nearly an hour, the minister and other sirdars 

 ascended by a ladder the funeral-pile, upon which ignitible 

 matters and substances, as cotton seeds, &c., were strewn, 

 and fhe royal body was respectfully placed in the middle 

 of the pile, together with the board. After this, the ranees 

 ascended the fatal ladder, one by one, according to their rank, 

 the slaves followed, and the minister showed himself very 

 officious in affording them assistance. The ranees placed 

 themselves at the head of the royal body, and the slaves 

 close at its feet. There they cowered, remaining in silent 

 expectation for the fatal moment, when a strong thick mat of 

 reeds being brought, with which the whole were covered, oil 

 was then poured over the mat, the minister and sirdars des- 

 cended, and the pile was lighted at each corner. In a few 

 moments, the deplorable victims of an abominable and fana- 

 tic ceremony had ceased to exist. 



The consuming of this pile occupied two days ; on the 

 third, some of the bones and ashes of each of the bodies were 

 collected in the presence of the court only, and separately 

 placed in urns. After which ceremony, a preparation was 

 made for a journey, with exactly the same pomp and 

 splendour as if the maharajah and his wives were still 

 alive. Thus their remains were conveyed in five richly cap- 

 arisoned palanquins by numerous attendants and guards, 

 accompanied by handsome presents, such as shawls, costly 

 decorated elephants, horses, &c., &c., to the banks of the 

 Ganges, where the Brahmins received the whole. The bones 

 and ashes they put into the river, the other valuables they 

 distributed among themselves ; nothing returning but the 

 men. The tents under which the ashes of Runjeet Sing and 

 each of the ranees were placed, were composed of the most 

 valuable Cashmere shawl materials, the props of which were 

 of gold and silver. Some millions of rupees were expended 

 in this outfit. Upon the procession leaving the fortress, 

 it traversed the streets and bazaars, the ministers and 

 some of the principal sirdars on foot, with numerous others 



