Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/182

168 a temple, where her mother-in-law constantly resided. During this time her husband's body was uncovered. He was a handsome man, about thirty, and dressed in his bridal habiliments. An hour was employed in bringing wood and materials for the pile. It was made of large beams and moist plantain wood, laid cross-wise, over which was spread dry rushes, and a quantity of small billets of wood. While it was preparing, Bowanny sent twice to complain of the delay. After it had been raised about two feet from the ground, the litter, with the husband's body, was laid upon it, and soon afterwards she came from the temple, supported by the bramins, her husband's brothers, and four female attendants. She appeared weak, and often reclined her head. She repeated prayers dictated by the bramins, when near the pile, with her eyes lifted up to heaven. When close to it, she sate down upon the ground; they gave her the liquor of a cocoa-nut, and read over some ancient writing. She went only once round the pile, instead of three times, on account of her extreme weakness; and, when seated upon it, laid her hands upon the heads of those who crouded round, to bless them; but what she said was drowned by the hum of the people, and the noise of the music, which accompanied the procession. For a few moments, she appeared in a state of suspence, either affected with what she was going to suffer, or trying to recollect if more was necessary to be done. She then began to give away her ornaments, arranged the pillows of the bed, and, without the least discomposure, laid down on the left side of her husband, throwing one arm around him, and striving to support his head with the other. A sheet was then spread over them—on which rushes and sticks, sprinkled with ghee and oil, were laid to the height of two or three feet; when