Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 404

364
THE SUTTEE OF TWO QUEENS
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 the arms of her con-
ductors, who were obliged to complete the ceremony by
dragging her through the third round. Then, at last,
senseless and unconscious, she was cast upon the corpse
At that moment the air resounded with
of her husband.
noisy acclamations.
The Brahmins, emptying the contents
of their vessels on the dry wood, applied their torches,
and in the twinkling of an eye the whole pile was ablaze.
Three times was the unfortunate woman called by her
name. But, alas she made no answer.
The last king of Tanjore, who died in 1801, left behind
him four lawful wives. The Brahmins decided that two
of these should be burnt with the body of their husband,
and selected the couple that should have the preference.
It would have been an everlasting shame to them and the
grossest insult to the memory of the deceased had they
hesitated to accept this singular honour.
Being fully con-
vinced, moreover, that no means would be spared to induce
them to sacrifice themselves either willingly or unwillingly,
they made a virtue of necessity and seemed perfectly ready
to yield to the terrible lot which awaited them.
The necessary preparations for the obsequies were com-
pleted in a single day.
Three or four leagues from the royal residence a square
pit of no great depth, and about 12 to 15 feet square, was
excavated. Within it was erected a pyramid of sandal-
wood, resting on a kind of scaffolding of the same wood.
The posts which supported it were so arranged that they
could easily be removed, and would thereby cause the whole
structure to collapse suddenly.
At the four corners of the
pit were placed huge brass jars filled with ghee, to be thrown
on the wood in order to hasten combustion.
The following was the order of the procession as it
wended its way to the pyre. It was headed by a large
force of armed soldiers. Then followed a crowd of musicians,
chiefly trumpeters, who made the air ring with the dismal
sound of their instruments. Next came the king's body
;
!