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152

Behold thefe mountain-tops of various fize
Blend their dim ridges with the fleecy skies;

Nature's

"We have been prefent, fays he, at many of thefe facrifices: in fome of the victims we have obferved a pitiable dread, tremor and reluctance, that ftrongly spoke repentance for their declared refolution, but it was now too late to retract or retreat; Biftnoo was waiting for the fpirit. If the felfdoomed victim difcovers want of courage and fortitude, fhe is with gentle force obliged to afcend the pile, where she is held down with long poles, held by men on each fide of the pile, until the flames reach her; her fcreams and cries in the mean time being drowned amidst the deafening noife of loud mufic, and the acclamations of the multitude -Others we have seen go through this fiery trial, with most amazing steady, calm refolution, and joyous fortitude. It will not we hope be unacceptable, if we present our readers with an instance of the latter, which happened fome years past at the Eaft India company's factory at Coffimbuzaar, in the time of Sir Francis Ruffel's chieffhip; the author, and feveral other gentlemen of the factory were prefent, fome of whom are now (1765) living."

"At five of the clock on the morning of Feb. 4, 1742-3, died Rhaam Chund Pundit of the Mahabrattor tribe, aged twenty-eight years; his widow, (for he had but one wife) aged between seventeen and eighteen, as foon as he expired, difdaining to wait the term allowed her for reflection, immediately declared to the Bramins and witneffes prefent, her refolution to burn."-Lady Ruffel, fays Mr. H. all the merchants, and the victim's own relations, ufed every endeavour to diffuade her, but in vain. When urged to live on account of her three infant children, the replied, He that made them would take care of them; and when told the would not be permitted to burn, the affirmed that she would starve herself.

"The body of the deceased was carried down to the water fide early the following morning, the widow followed about ten o'clock, accompanied by three very principal Bramins, her children, parents, and relations, and a numerous concourfe of people. The order of leave for her burning did not arrive until after one, and it was then brought by one of the Soubab's own officers, who had orders to see that she burnt voluntarily. The time they waited for the order was employed in praying with the Bramins, and washing in the Ganges; as soon as it arrived she retired, and stayed for the space of half

an

*On this Mr. H. has the following note: "The Gentoos are not permitted to burn, without an order from the Mahommedan government, and this permiffion is commonly made a perquifite of."

Nature's rude wall, against the fierce Canar
They guard the fertile lawns of Malabar.

Here

an hour in the midst of her female relations, among whom was her mother; she then divested herself of her bracelets and other ornaments, and tied them in a cloth which hung like an apron before her, and was conducted by her female relations to one corner of the pile; on the pile was an arched arbour, formed of dry sticks, boughs, and leaves, open only at one end to admit her entrance; in this the body of the deceased was depofited, his head at the end oppofite to the opening. At the corner of the pile to which fhe had been conducted, the Bramin had made a fmall fire, round which she and the three Bramins fat for fome minutes; one of them gave into her hand a leaf of the bale tree (the wood commonly confecrated to form part of the funeral pile) with fundry things on it, which she threw into the fire; one of the others gave her a second leaf, which he held over the flame, whilst he dropped three times fome ghee on it, which melted and fell into the fire (these two operations were preparatory symbols of her approaching dissolution by fire); and whilst they were performing this, the third Bramin read to her fome portions of the Aughtorrah Bhade, and asked her fome queftions, to which the anfwered with a steady and ferene countenance; but the noife was fo great, we could not understand what fhe faid, although we were within a yard of her :-thefe over, fhe was led with great folemnity three times round the pile, the Bramins reading before her; when the came the third time to the fmall fire, fhe ftopped, took her rings off her toes and fingers, and put them to her other ornainents; here fhe took a folemn majeftic leave of her children, parents, and relations; after which one of the Bramins dipped a large wick of cotton in fome ghee, and gave it ready lighted into her hand, and led her to the open fide of the arbour; there all the Bramins fell at her feet-after fhe had bleffed them they retired weepingby two steps fhe afcended the pile, and entered the arbour; on her entrance fhe made a profound reverence at the feet of the deceased, and advanced and feated herself by his head; fhe looked, in filent meditation, on his face for the space of a minute, then fet fire to the arbour in three places; obferving that she had fet fire to leeward, and that the flames blew from her, instantly feeing her error, fhe rofe, and fet fire to windward, and refumed her station; enfign Daniel with his cane feparated the grafs and leaves on the windward fide, by which means we had a diftin&t view of her as the fat. With what dignity and undaunted a countenance the fet fire to the pile the laft time, and affumed her feat, can only be conceived, for words cannot convey a juft idea of her. The pile being of combuftible matters, the fupporters of the roof were prefently confumed, and it tumbled upon her.

"There

Here from the mountain to the furgy main,
Fair as a garden spreads the smiling plain :
And lo, the emprefs of the Indian powers,
There lofty Calicut refplendent towers;
Her's every fragrance of the fpicy fhore,
Her's every gem of India's countless ftore:
Great Samoreem, her lord's imperial style,
The mighty lord of India's utmost soil :
To him the kings their duteous tribute pay,
And at his feet confefs their borrowed fway.
Yet higher tower'd the monarchs ancient boast,
Of old one fovereign ruled the spacious coast,
A votive train, who brought the Koran's lore,
What time great Perimal the fceptre bore,
From bleft Arabia's groves to India came :
Life were their words, their eloquence a flame
Of holy zeal: fired by the powerful strain

The lofty monarch joins the faithful train,

And

"There have been instances known, when the victim has, by Europeans, been forcibly rescued from the pile; it is currently said and believed (how true we will not aver) that the wife of Mr. Job Charnock was by him snatched from this facrifice; be this as it may, the outrage is confidered by the Gentoos, an atrocious and wicked violation of their facred rites and privileges."

▾ Of old one fovereign ruled the spacious coaft." Whatever Monzaida re❝lates of the people and their manners, is confirmed by the hiftories of "India, according to Barros, Caftaneda, Maffeus, and Oforius. Our "Author, in this, imitates Homer and Virgil, who are fond of every op "portunity to introduce any curious custom or veftige of antiquity," Caftera.

And vows, at fair Medina's fhrine, to clofe
His life's mild eve in prayer and sweet repose.
Gifts he prepares to deck the prophet's tomb,
The glowing labours of the Indian loom,
Orixa's fpices and Golconda's gems;

Yet, ere the fleet th' Arabian ocean stems,
His final care his potent regions claim,
Nor his the transport of a father's name;
His fervants now the regal purple wear,
And high enthroned the golden fceptres bear.
Proud Cochim one, and one fair Chalé fways,
The spicy Isle another lord obeys:

Coulam and Cananoor's luxurious fields,

And Cranganore to various lords he yields.
While these and others thus the monarch graced,

A noble youth his care unmindful past :
Save Calicut, a city poor and small,

Though lordly now, no more remain'd to fall:
Grieved to behold fuch merit thus repaid,
The fapient youth the king of kings he made,
And honour'd with the name, great Samoreem,
The lordly titled boast of power fupreme.
And now great Perimal resigns his reign,
The blissful bowers of paradife to gain:
Before the gale his gaudy navy flies,
And India finks for ever from his eyes.
And foon to Calicut's commodious port

The fleets, deep-edging with the wave, refort:

155

Wide o'er the fhore extend the warlike piles,
And all the landfcape round luxurious fmiles.
And now her flag to every gale unfurl'd,
She towers the emprefs of the eastern world:
Such are the bleffings fapient kings bestow,
And from thy ftream fuch gifts, O Commerce, flow.

From that fage youth, who first reign'd king of kings,
He now who sways the tribes of India fprings.
Various the tribes, all led by fables vain,

Their rites the dotage of the dreamful brain.
All, fave where Nature whispers modest care,
Naked they blacken in the fultry air.
The haughty nobles and the vulgar race
Never muft join the conjugal embrace;
Nor may the ftripling, nor the blooming maid,
Oh loft to joy, by cruel rites betray'd!

To spouse of other than their father's art,

At love's connubial fhrine unite the heart:

Nor may their fons, the genius and the view
Confined and fettered, other art pursue.

Vile were the ftain, and deep the foul disgrace,
Should other tribe touch one of noble race;
A thousand rites, and washings o'er and o'er,

Can scarce his tainted purity restore.

Poleas the labouring lower clans are named;

By the proud Nayres the noble rank is claimed;

2.

The

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