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river. And these are not commanded. These actions are generally performed in consequence of vows, or in compliance with custom. But all vows are optional, and the committing murder in consequence of a vow, does not lessen the guilt of it. On the contrary, a vow to commit such an action, is a crime which deserves punishment. "This principle is conceded by the Pundits."

5. Most persons of erudition and influence among the Hindoos reprobate the observance of cruel or painful rites not appointed by the Shasters.

When these persons have been asked, why they did not exert their influence to prevent such irregularities, they have always answered: "That they have no power; that the Hindoo rajahs formerly did interfere and punish those who were guilty of breaking the laws of the Shasters." They allege particularly, that in the Sahamoron, or burning of widows, "no influence of the Brahmins or of relations should be permitted, and that such influence when suspected is a subject for civil inquiry; that the woman should come of her own accord, and lay herself on the pile after it is kindled; that no bamboos or ropes should bind her down; and that if after ascending the pile her resolution should fail her, she should be subject to no inconvenience or disgrace, more than the appointed atonement,* or that for which it may be commuted; and that every deviation from the strict letter of the law, is to be accounted murder."

The uninformed part of the community assent to the propriety of the common practice; and there can be little doubt that family pride in many cases, lights the funeral pile. But the opinion of the learned and more respectable part of their society must have the greatest weight; and would be sufficient to vindicate any salutary measure which government might adopt. To reduce this rite to the strict bounds allowed it in the Shasters, would do much towards its total abolition.

6. The immersion of half the body of a person sup

* A rigid fast; but which may be commuted for a gift to a Brah min of a cow and a calf; or of five kouns of cowries.

posed to be dying, in the water of the Ganges, must olten, in acute diseases, occasion premature death.

What has been observed respecting the Sahamoron, will equally apply to this practice. It is optional. Though very common on the banks of the Ganges, it is reprobated in many places at a distance from it. The abolition of it would not be more difficult than that of the Sahamoron.

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"A REGULATION for preventing the sacrifice of children at Saugor and other places. Passed by the Governor General in Council, on the 20th August,

1802.

"It has been represented to the Governor General in council, that a criminal and inhuman practice of sacrificing children, by exposing them to be drowned, or devoured by sharks, prevails at the island of Saugor, and at Baryah, Chaugdah, and other places on the Ganges. At Saugor, especially, such sacrifices have been made at fixed periods, namely, the day of full moon in November and in January; at which time also grown persons have devoted themselves to a similar death. Children, thrown into the sea at Saugor, have not been generally rescued, as is stated to be the custom at other places; but the sacrifice has, on the contrary, been completely effected, with circumstances of peculiar atrocity in some instances. This practice, which is represented to arise from superstitious vows, is not sanctioned by the Hindoo law, nor countenanced by the religious orders, or by the people at large; nor was it at any time authorized by the Hindoo or Mahomedan governments of India. The persons concerned in the perpetration of such crimes are therefore clearly liable to punishment; and the plea of custom would be inadmissible in excuse of the offence. But for the more effectual prevention of so inhuman a practice, the Governor General in council has enacted the following regulation, to be in force from the promulgation of it,

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in the provinces of Bengal, Behar, Orissa, and Benares."

Then follows the clause declaring the practice to be murder, punishable with death.

D.

REPORT of the number of women who have burned themselves on the funeral pile of their husbands within thirty miles round Calcutta, from the beginning of Bysakh (15th April) to the end of Aswin (15th October,) 1804.

From Gurria to Barrypore.

BHURUT BAZAR

Rajepore

Muluncha

Barrypore

Maeenugur
Lasun

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The above Report was made by persons of the Hindoo cast, deputed for that purpose. They were ten in number, and were stationed at different places during the whole period of the six months. They gave in their account monthly, specifying the name and place, so that every individual instance was subject to investigation immediately after its occurrence.

2. By an account taken in 1803, the number of women sacrificed during that year within thirty miles round Calcutta was two hundred and seventy-five.

3. In the foregoing Report of six months in 1804, it will be perceived that no account was taken of burnings in a district to the west of Calcutta, nor further than twenty miles in some other directions; so that the whole number of burnings within thirty miles round Calcutta, must have been considerably greater than is here stated.

4. The average number (according to the above Report) of women burning within thirty miles round Calcutta, is nearly twenty per month.

5. One of the above was a girl of eleven years of age. Instances sometimes occur of children of ten years old burning with their husbands.*

6. In November of last year two women, widows of one Brahmin, burnt themselves with his body at Barnagore, within two miles of Calcutta.

7 About the same time a woman burnt herself at Kalee Ghat, with the body of a man, who was not her

* They often marry at the age of pine.

husband. The man's name was Toteram Doss. The woman was a Joginee of Seebpore.

8. In the province of Orissa, now subject to the British government, it is a custom that when the wife of a man of rank burns, all his concubines must burn with her. In the event of their refusal, they are dragged forcibly to the place and pushed with bamboos into the flaming pit. It is usual there to dig a pit, instead of raising a pile. The truth of this fact (noticed by some writers) is attested by Pundits now in the College of Fort-William, natives of that province..

E.

Religious Mendicants.

THE Hindoo Shasters commend a man if he retire from the world, and, devoting himself to solitude, or to pilgrimage, live on the spontaneous productions of the earth, or by mendicity. This principle, operating on an ignorant and superstitious people, has, in the revolution of ages, produced the consequence which might be expected. The whole of Hindostan swarms with lay-beggars. In some districts there are armies of beggars. They consist in general, of thieves and insolvent debtors; and are excessively ignorant, and notoriously debauched.

This begging system is felt as a public evil by the industrious part of the community, who, from fear of the despotic power and awful curse of this fraternity, dare not withhold their contributions.

These beggars, often coming into large towns naked, outrage decency, and seem to set Christian police at defiance.

The pundits consider these mendicants as the public and licensed corrupters of the morals of the people; and they affirm that the suppression of the order would greatly contribute to the civil improvement of the na tives of Hindostan.

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