in the order of their rank, seating themselves at the head; the other seven placed themselves around the feet. The chief widow, now sitting on the funeral pile, apparently as calm as any American mother on her dying bed, called to her Khuruk Singh, the son, and Dhian Singh, the favorite minister, of the Maharajah, and, placing the dead king's hand first in the hand of the royal heir, and then in the hand of the powerful minister, made them swear to be mutually faithful. They then retired, and a strong, thick mat of reeds was placed around and over the ladies, and oil plentifully poured upon it. There they cowered in silent expectation of the fatal moment The brand was applied quickly, and the roaring flames leaped up and enveloped them, and in fifteen minutes nothing remained of the eleven beautiful women but a heap of bones and ashes. Preparation was now made to convey part of their remains to the Ganges. Some of the bones and ashes of each were placed in urns; these were put in separate palanquins richly decorated, and attended with the same pomp and splendor as if the Maharajah and his wives were still alive. Surrounded by guards and attendants, and accompanied by costly presents, such as shawls, decorated elephants and horses, with money, etc., for the Brahmins, the procession passed through the Delhi gate, amid the last royal salute from the fort and ramparts of the city. Here the minister and chiefs returned, leaving the remains and presents to proceed under the care of the military. The Brahmins received the whole on its arrival at the Ganges. The bones and ashes they put into the river, the valuables they divided among themselves, and the guard returned. The whole ceremony was one of the most extravagant ever seen in India, and must, Dr. Honiberger thinks, have cost several millions of rupees.
That the subject maybe fully understood, I will add two cases of suttee where the victims were more than usually willing, and exhibited a resolution that will surprise the reader. The first is described by an intelligent young native, who was the nephew of the lady burned. He gives the facts from his Hindoo stand-point, yet with much simplicity and candor.
