Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/115

 PIETRO DELIA VALLE ON SUTTEE 83 ' November the sixteenth. I was told that the af ore- mention 'd Woman, who had resolv'd to burn her self for her Husband's death, was to dye this Evening. But upon further enquiry at the Woman's House I understood that it would not be till after a few dayes more, and there I saw her sitting in a Court, or Yard, and other persons beating Drums about her. She was cloth 'd all in White and deck'd with many Neck-laces, Bracelets and other ornaments of Gold; on her Head INDIAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. After originals in the Museum of the East India House. she had a Garland of Flowers, spreading forth like the rayes of the Sun; in brief she was wholly in a Nuptial Dress and held a Lemon in her Hand, which is the usual Ceremony. She seem'd to be pleasant enough, talking and laughing in conversation, as a Bride would do in our Countries. She and those with her took notice of my standing there to behold her, and, conjec- turing by my foreign Habit who I was, some of them came toward me. I told them by an Interpreter that I was a Person of a very remote Country, where we had heard by Fame that some Women in India love their Husbands so vehemently as when they dye to resolve to dye with them; and that how, having intel-