Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/119

 THE WIDOW'S DETERMINATION TO DIE 87 her that I should esteem her visit and very willingly give her something; not for wood and fire wherein to burn her self (for her death much displeased me, and I would gladly have disswaded her from it, if I could), but to do some- thing else there- with that her self most lik'd; and I promised her that, so far as my weak pen could contrib- ute, her Name should remain im- mortal in the World. Thus I took leave of her, more sad for her death than she was, cursing the custom of India which is so unmer- ciful to Women. Giaccama was a Woman about thirty years of age, of a Complexion very brown for an Indian and almost black, but of a good aspect, tall of stature, well shap'd and proportion 'd. My Muse could not forbear from chanting her in a Sonnet which I made upon her death, and reserve among my Poetical Papers.' 1 A brief but vivid description of the cruel rite not 1 This sonnet has apparently been lost. AN INDIAN WOMAN WITH A CHARACTERISTIC NECKLACE.