GHAZIPORE. 
75 
usual practice, should be performed at a distance from 
the river side; the margin of the consecrated tank 
was selected for the purpose. After ceremonies of 
purification had been performed upon the spot, strong- 
stakes of bamboo were driven into the ground, en- 
closing an oblong space* about seven feet in length, 
and six in breadth, the stakes being about eight feet in 
height : within this enclosure the pile was built of 
straw, and boughs, and logs of wood : upon the top a 
small arbour was constructed of wreathed bamboos, 
and this was hung with flowers within and without. 
About an hour after the sun had risen, prayers and 
ablutions having been carefully and devoutly per- 
formed by all, more especially by the Brahmins and 
Lall Radha, who was also otherwise purified and 
fitted for the sacrifice, the corpse of the deceased 
husband was brought from the house, attended by the 
administering Brahmins, and surrounded by the 
silent and weeping friends and relations of the family. 
Immediately following the corpse came Lall Radha, 
enveloped in a scarlet veil which completely hid her 
beautiful person from view. When the body was 
placed upon the pile, the feet being towards the west, 
the Brahmins took the veil from Lall Radha, and, 
for the first time, the glaring multitude were suffered 
* It is worthy of remark, that aU castes of the Hindoos have a su- 
perstitious prejudice against anything which is square, and will 
invariably find some expedient for altering its dimensions, either 
by cutting off or adding, or by removing the corners of such a 
figure. 
