ABOLITION OF SUTTEES. 319 



p'iance with the strongly expressed opinion of many pious 

 and enlightened persons at home, at length authorized Lord 

 William Bentinck to issue an order for its discontinuance. 

 The appearance of this document produced a very strong 

 sensation in India, and strikingly displayed the different 

 views of the two classes into which its population is now 

 divided. An address was presented from a body of Hin- 

 doos, respectable by their numbers, and still more by their 

 wealth and intelligence, highly applauding the measure, 

 and declaring that the practice thereby prohibited formed 

 no essential part of their system. But a number of indi- 

 viduals at Calcutta, earnestly devoted to the ancient system, 

 have formed themselves into a societ}', called the Dharma 

 Subha, for the purpose of procuring the restoration of this 

 sacred rite, which they say has been continued for millions 

 of years under the successive eras of the satya, treta, dwa- 

 par, and cali yugs. They have organized themselves on 

 the model of the religious societies in England, with a pres- 

 ident, secretary, subscription-papers, and corresponding 

 branches ; and, having called upon every holy Hindoo to 

 contribute his mite to the pious work, have raised consider- 

 able sums to promote the objects of the institution, while 

 they have renounced all social intercourse with those of 

 their countrymen who follow an opposite course. The 

 other party, however, who are called the Brama Subha, 

 considering the Shastras in their favour, treat these violent 

 proceedings with indifference, and continue steadily to sup- 

 port the humane views of the British government. 



Another arrangement with regard to the native religion 

 has been reasonably called in question. With whatever 

 pain the worship paid in the idol temples may be viewed, 

 government, on the principles of toleration, are bound to 

 leave it unmolested. But they go further ; they levy a tax 

 from each pilgrim, and receive the offerings presented on 

 the altar. Out of these they keep the temple in repair, 

 and also pay salaries to the requisite number of officiating 

 priests and Bramins : the balance, it appears, goes into their 

 own exchequer. Mr. Poynder, in a speech at the India 

 House, charged the company with having in seventeen years 

 drawn a million sterling from the four principal temples of 

 Juggernaut, Allahabad, Gaya, and Tripetty. Dr. Short, 

 on the other hand, maintains that the raising of this tax ie 



