304 GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 



" extremely afRided at the ficknefs of her hulband, and heard 

 " her promife that fhe would not furvive him, but burn her- 

 *< felf with him, were fo touched with compaffioii and tender- 

 " nefs towards this their prieftefs, that they engaged themfelves 

 ** in a promife to follow her in her refolution, and to burn 

 " themfelves with her." 



A SECON D inftance, given by Bernier, is of a woman of middle 

 age, and not unhandfome. " To reprefent unto you the un- 

 " daunted cheerfulnefs that appeared in her countenance, the 

 <* refolution with which ilie marched, waflied herfelf, fpoke to 

 *' the people ; the confidence with which fhe looked upon us, 

 ** viewed her little cabin made up of very dry millet llraw, and 

 *' fmall wood, went into this cabin, and fate down upon the pile, 

 " and took her hufband's head into her lap, and a torch into 

 *' her own hand, and kindled the cabin, while I do not know 

 *' how many Brabjnins were bufy in kindling the fire about. 

 " To reprefent unto you, I fay, all this as I ought, is not pof- 

 *' fible for me; I can at prefent fcarce believe it myfelf, though 

 " it be but a few days fince I faw it !" 



It is not to be fuppofed that all thefe devoted women face 

 the fire with equal intrepidity. There are frequent inrtances 

 of their being feized with the utmoft terror, and even attempt 

 to efcape ; but the infernal Brahmins will, with their poles, 

 thruft them into the flames, and fornetimes tie their legs and 

 arms, and fling them into the burning pile. The afhes are 

 collecfted, and generally flung into the Ganges, or if not in its 

 neighborhood into fome facred river. If diftant from any, they 

 9 are 



