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was a plain piece of ground of considerable extent, situated on the right bank of the Ganges, several coss* to the westward of Benares. The ruddy pinnacles of the pagodas, and, here and there intermixed, the lofty minarets of a Mohammedan temple, might be discerned marking the precincts of the 'sacred city' to the eastward;t on the north the holy Ganges' rolled its deep murmuring waters

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* Hindoos., a measure of about two miles.—ED.

+"Few places in Gangetic India offer a more picturesque or imposing appearance than Benares from the river. The bank is lined with an uninterrupted range of spacious ghats, and crowned with an infinite number of small temples of the most elaborate workmanship, which present themselves to view in varied and rapid succession. Structures of more bulk and greater extent, the dwellings of opulent individuals or the domiciles of religious orders, occupy the intervals between these lighter edifices; and the back-ground is filled with a series of lofty buildings, rising tier above tier, and topped with every possible variety of pinnacle and minaret. The whole is of a grey or red stone, diversified by the variegated tints which time has given to theirhue. The picture is perfect, without the addition of human figures; but when, as on the present occasion, the ghats and surmounting edifices are covered with a dense population, dressed in the greatest possible variety of colour and costume, a scene occurs to which it would be difficult for the pencil, and still more so for description, to ren der justice." Vide Asiatic Journal, No CXXXVI. p. 525.ED.

with a noise which gave an idea of solemnity, if not of reverence, to the scene; a dense jungle,* at the distance of a few coss, bounded the view in a beautiful manner on the south side; whilst, far to the westward, the wide expanse of the Jumoona, hastening to join the Ganges, reflected the early beams of the morning, and the distant mountains of Boondelkhund served as sublime boundaries to the prospect.

"In the immediate neighbourhood of the spot where the chaura† had been dug, and the funeralpile erected with the corpse upon it, a considerable crowd became very soon assembled; and the keen scramble which took place among the huramzadus‡ for eligible situations for beholding the tumasha,§ might have afforded vast amusement to any unconcerned spectator. At one corner might be seen a

* Hindoos., a forest.—ED.

+ Hindoos.

ed.-ED.

the place in which Hindoo women are burn

+ Hindoos. xl, low-born fellows, scoundrels,—ED,

حرام زاده

§ Hindoos. Ll, an entertainment or show, a spectacle.—

ED.

juggler tossing up his balls, or daggers, or twirling his rings in the air with the most monotonous placidity imaginable; at another a Jogee,* intent on the fulfilment of his vow, presented a no less interesting exhibition to the spectators, by distorting his limbs, hanging suspended head downwards from a tree, or by performing some other feat tending to inspire the beholders with admiration of his sanctity, and remarkable attainments in austerity and devotion;—whilst the impudent Fakeers,† with their never-ending suwal,‡— Baba, koochh moula nam ka souda kuro,'§-interrupted the stillness which seemed at times about to take possession of the

scene.

"This was soon interrupted in a more impressive manner, however, by the appearance of the holy Brahmins, as they passed along in solemn procession, arrayed in their most splendid habiliments, ac

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.. بابا کچھ مولا نام کا سودا کرو Hindoos

"Sir, show me some kindness in the Lord's name !"-ED.

companied by gongs, cymbals, tambours, lutes, and other instruments of music, to the neighbourhood of the pile. Next came their victim,―my poor, dear mother,―dressed simply but elegantly in white raiment, bedecked with an immense profusion of jewels, and surrounded by her nearest relatives, including my brother and myself, together with a long train of female attendants for assisting in the ceremonies.

"After being immersed, with all due observance, for the seventh and last time, in the sacred waters of the Ganges, and having solemnly pronounced the fatal sunkulp,* my mother, with the most heroic intrepidity, and with scarcely any assistance from the attendants, mounted the funeral-pile, and placed herself immediately by the side of her deceased husband." You will allow me here, most excellent Wilfred, to subscribe myself,

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No XIV.

Consummation of the Suttee-Hindoo Notions of future Beatitude-Bikram Escapes from the Brahmins A Rajpoot Ameer.

WITHOUT troubling you with remarks, most sage Wilfred, which, I am sure, would not be at all acceptable, as they would interrupt the pleasure which, without doubt, you derive from the narrative, I shall proceed to give you, in his own words, the continuation of the story of the Rajpoot :

"Every thing necessary for the consummation of the Suttee seemed to be now accomplished, and the officiating Brahmins were preparing to put the fatal torch into the hand of my brother, in order that he might set fire to the pile, as had been previously arranged with my mother should be done. This, however, they were not to do till they should receive a certain signal from herself, which had been

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