India's cries to British humanity, relative to the suttee, infanticide, British connexion with idolatry, ghaut murders, and slavery in India; : to which is added humane hints for the melioration of the state of society in British India. / By J. Peggs.

  • Peggs, James, 1793-1850.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: India's cries to British humanity, relative to the suttee, infanticide, British connexion with idolatry, ghaut murders, and slavery in India; : to which is added humane hints for the melioration of the state of society in British India. / By J. Peggs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    forming us of the intended Suttee. The woman was a Telinga, the wife of a Brahmun who-died that morning about daybreak. Her reply to the several questions proposed to her through the Telinga interpreter was, “ What have I any more to do with the world ? 1 must go to my husband.” Support for life, and a conveyance to her own home, were offered, but they were rejected. From my pundit. I have gathered some particulars which cast light upon this dreadful rite. He stated, that it is customary to lament the dead with crying and noise, but she did not; saying, she was going to her husband. She said, she was a stranger and had nothing, and therefore desired the neighbours to provide what was necessary for a Suttee. She said also, that she had been a Suttee in three former births, and must be so four times more, and then she should attain endless felicity. Those who should dare to prevent her, by con- fining her in a house or jail, their seed should die, and they should descend into hell. Some approved of this, others said, that as she had no son nor daughter therefore she wished to die. To this she replied, she had a brother and sister, and in her own country many friends, but she wished to go to her husband. From joog to joog (age to age), in this manner, with the same husband, she was to be born and die. “ About half-past three o’clock she proceeded to the pile. I was then too unwell to venture out. Mrs. P. saw her on the way and talked with her. About six o’clock in the evening I went to the spot, expecting the tragical business to be closed. I was, however, surprised to find nothing more done than the pile partly prepared. The Judge and three other gentlemen, with some of our English congregation, were present, and a great number of Natives. Frequent and persevering efforts were made by the above gentlemen to dissuade her from her purpose, assisted by the members of the Mission who were present. She was sitting near the pile with the corpse of her husband covered with a cloth lying near her. I knew two Telinga Brahmuns present, and, taking them, endea- voured to speak to the woman. I told her I was a Padree; that God had sent me and others to teach the people the true Incarnation, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins: that if she would go with me to my house she would be able to learn this knowledge; and that I would send her in a palkee to her own country : but if she ate fire and died now, how could she gain this knowledge, without which she could not be saved ? I told her, thus to destroy herself was not God’s will. I fear my translators were not faithful; but all the poor woman said was, ‘ Narayun, Na- rayun.’ This she repeated with a stupidity of mind truly indescribable. Mr. B., one of the gentlemen present, was desirous to convince her, by some ordeal, that she could not burn; but the infatuated woman played with a piece of fire like a child, though when her hand was pressed upon a coal she showed no resolution. He lifted up one of her eye-lids, and affirmed that she was intoxicated. This was stated to the Judge, and urged as a sufficient reason to forbid the horrid murder; but he thought it wanted evidence, and hesitated to use his authority to save her. The pile, which was slowly preparing, was about eight feet long, four feet wide, and about two feet higb. At each comer was a piece of wood which supported the roof; three sides of the pile were blocked up. Raw flax was laid on the wood, upon which the corpse was placed. Ghee was forbidden to be put on the pile by the Judge, that the woman might have the opportunity to escape, by feeling the effects of the fire gradually: a practice which, if the Suttee were always, according to