Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/141

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THE SCENE AT THE PYRE
109

awe any persons who might be moved by a natural feeling of compassion and sympathy, and so tempted to prevent the accomplishment of the homicidal sacrifice.

AN OLD PICTURE OF A WIDOW PREPARING TO BE BURNED WITH HER HUSBAND.

At length, the principal Brahman gave the fatal signal. The poor widow was instantly divested of all her jewels, and dragged, more dead than alive, to the pyre. There she was obliged, according to custom, to walk three times round the pile, two of her nearest relatives supporting her by the arms. She accomplished the first round with tottering steps; during the second her strength wholly forsook her, and she fainted away in

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