G A N G E T I G H I N D O O S T A N. 305 



are placed in a pot of red earthen ware, which is inclofed in a 

 neat plain tomb of flone *. 



There is an appearance of fortitude in this action. I would 

 not detraft from the merit, or the affedlion which they 

 feem to bear to their hufbands, but fhould they endeavour to 

 avoid the pile, they would be deemed infamous by their cajly 

 and be rejeded and defpifed by all their relations. The Hindoo 

 laws do not compel this fad duty, but they ftrongly recommend 

 it. " It is proper," fay they t, " for a woman after her hufband's 

 " death to burn herfelf in the fire with his corpfe : every wo- 

 " man who thus burns herfelf fli all reniain in paradife with her 

 *' hulband three crore and fifty lacks of years by deftiny ; if 

 " flie cannot burn, flie muft, in that cafe, preferve an inviolable 

 " chaftity ; if flie remains always chafte, flie goes to paradife, 

 " and if flie does not preferve her chaflity flie goes to hell." 



Under the Mahometan government, leave for burning mult 

 be obtained, nor is it ever granted till after every perfuafion is 

 ufed to divert them from fa phrenetic an a6lion ; they are 

 fomethiies refcued from the flames by troops of the wandering 

 FaqtiirSf who fometimes meet on the fpot in great numbers 

 when they know that it is fome fair and young woman that is 

 to be burnt, and that hath no great kindred nor much company 

 with her : for the women that are afraid of the pile, and fly 

 away from it, knowing that they cannot be received again 

 amongfl the Gentiles, nor live with them, becaufe they repute 

 them infamous after they have committed fuch a fault, and 



* Mr. Daniell. 



I Halhed's Code of Gentoo Laws, p. 286. 



Vol.. 1L E. r brought 



