Book H ^ Travels in India. "" T^sT 



other Sweet-woods. But the Idolaters do not only burn the Bodies of the d«rf 

 bbc the Bodies of the living. They fcruple to kill a ferpent, or aToufe but^ 

 count it a meritorious thing to burn a living Wife with the Body of the deceased 



GHAP. X. 



How the Wives are burnt in India with the Bodies of their 



deceased Husbands. 



T T u is «r / fl andcnt Cuftom among the Indian 'Att the Husband happening to dve 



X the Wife can never marry again. So that as foon as the Man is dead, the Wife 

 retires to bewail her Husband 5 fome days after that, they (have off her hair- 

 flic lays afide all the ornaments of her apparel 5 (he takes off from her arms and 

 legs the Bracelets which her Husband put on when be efpous'd her, in token of fifr 

 fubmiffion, and her being chain'd to him: and all the reft of her life (he Jive's 

 flighted and defpis'd, and in a worfe condition than a Slave in- the very Houfe 

 where (he was Miftrefs before. This unfortunate condition causes thenr to hate 

 life, fo that they rather choofc to be buri'd alive with the body of their dCceas'd 

 Husbands, then to live the fcorn and contempt of all the World. Befides that 

 the Bramins make them believe, that in dying after that manner, they (hall re- 

 vive again with him in another World, with more honour and more advantages 

 than they enjoy'd before. Thefe are the motives that perfwade the Women to 

 burn with their Husbands; befides that, the Priefts flatter them with a hope 

 that while they are in the midft of the flames, before they expire, Ram will 

 appear, and reveal wonderful vifions to them ; and that after their Souk 

 have tranfmigrated into various Bodies, they (hall at length obtain a hieh deeree 

 of Honour to eternity. & & 



However, there is no Woman that can burn with her Husband's body till (he 

 has the leave of the Governor of the place where (he inhabits, who being a Ma- 

 hometan, and abhorring that execrable cuftom of Self-murder, is very (hy to per- 

 mit them. Befides, there are none*iMt Widows that have no children, that lye 

 under the reproach that forces them to violent death. For as for the Widows 

 that have children, they are by no means permitted to burn thCmlelves j bdt 

 quite the contrary, they arc commanded to live (or the education of the 'chil- 

 dren. Thofe Women whom the Governour will not permit to burn themfelves, 

 fpend the reft of their lives in doing Penance, and performing works of Charity! 

 Some make it their bu/mefs to fit upon the Road to boyl certain Pulfe in waterj 

 and to give the liquor to Travellers to drink. Others fit with fire always ready 

 • for them to light their Tobacco. Others make vows to eat nothing but the un- 

 digefted grains which they find in Cow- dung. 



The Governour finding no perfwafions will alter the Woman's rcfolution, but 

 more especially perceiving by the fign which his Secretary makes him, that he has 

 feceiv'd the Coin, in a furly manner gives the Woman leave, bidding the Devi/ 

 take her and all her kindred. 



When they haye got this leave, their Mufick begins to (rrike up, and away they 

 ding to the Houjeof the deceas'd, with Drums beating, and Flutes playing before 

 them 5 and in that manner they accompany the perfon.that is to be burnt, to the 

 place appointed. All the kindred and friends of the Widow that is to dye, come 

 to her, and congratulate her for the happinefs (he is to cn/oy in the other World : 

 and for the honour which the Cafie (he is of receives by her generous refolution, 

 (he drefies her felf as (he were going to be marri'd, and (he is conduced in tri- 

 umph to the place of execution. For the noife is loud of Mbfical Inftrumerits, 

 and Womens Voices, that follow her finging Songs in honour of the miferable 

 creature that is going to dye. The Bramins that accompany her, exhort her to 

 give publiek teitimonies of her conftancy and courage : and many of our Europeans 



* Z arc 



