393 



self into the first well, rather than submit. She was nearly blind 

 from age, and the summons was not enforced." 



The conduct of the bhauts and brahmins at Neriad, which I 

 have particularly mentioned in the campaign in Guzerat, was 

 exactly similar to the khoor described by lord Teignmouth, and 

 proceeded from the peshwa of the Mahrattas making what they 

 deemed an unjust demand. 



Many other extraordinary customs prevailed in the purgunnas 

 under my charge; which I do not particularize, from a conscious- 

 ness that in England they would have a very suspicious ap- 

 pearance. 



The cremation of Hindoo widows with the bodies of their de- 

 ceased husbands, is now no longer doubted; but, it is more diffi- 

 cult to believe, that men in the prime of life, and surrounded by 

 every blessing, should voluntarily desire to immolate themselves 

 to their deities, and be buried alive; which is no uncommon sacri- 

 fice among the tribe of Gosannees and other Hindoo devotees. A 

 short time before I took charge of Dhuboy, a young man insisted 

 on being interred alive near the temple at the Gate of Diamonds; 

 and soon afterwards another performed the same sacrifice about 

 half a mile without the English districts, because I refused him 

 permission to do it in his native village; for neither is this self- 

 immolation, the cremation of women, nor any other act of suicide 

 allowed of within the company's territories. These solemn sacri- 

 fices are always performed in the presence of many witnesses, and 

 during the celebration of various religious rites and ceremonies 

 by the brahmins. 



On such a sacrifice being announced, a large crowd assemble; 



VOL. II. 3 E 



