Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/141

 THE SCENE AT THE PYEE 109 awe any persons who might be moved by a natural feel- ing of compassion and sympathy, and so tempted to prevent the accomplishment of the homicidal sacrifice. At length, the principal Brahman gave the fatal sig- nal. The poor widow was instantly divested of all her AN OLD PICTURE OF A WIDOW PREPARING TO BE BURKED WITH HER HUSBAND. jewels, and dragged, more dead than alive, to the pyre. There she 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