74 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
indeed, his strength destroyed, and his constitution un- 
dermined. For a few months he somewhat recovered 
from his extreme debility, and was enabled to give an 
account of his hard and dangerous pilgrimage ; but 
disease had sapped the foundations of his life, and it 
was evident that he could not much longer continue 
with us. He lingered in trial and suffering about two 
years after his return, and then was gathered to his 
fathers. May God reward his excellence ! At the time 
of Bhagut’s death I was about fourteen years of age, 
and throughout his illness I had not ceased to aid and 
comfort both him and the incomparable Lall Radha. 
When the torch of life was about to expire, we carried 
him to the Ganges bank, and placed him over the 
sacred stream until animation had fled ; and this had 
no sooner taken place than the heroic Lall Radha de- 
clared her intention of burning with the corpse of her 
beloved. May the great Brahma be graciously pleased 
by long expiation on our parts to forgive us ! I re- 
gret to confess that so dearly was our beautiful relative 
beloved, that we joined in one voice to dissuade her 
from her holy purpose ; but, God be praised, she was 
proof against our evil temptations, her determination 
was inflexible ; she turned a deaf ear to our entreaties, 
and even reproved the Brahmins for lukewarmness: 
for when they beheld her exceeding beauty they fal- 
tered in their commendations of her choice. 
“ Fearing intervention from the British authorities 
it was decided that this solemn rite, contrary to the 
