Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/296

 I S52 RELIGION OF BALI. bring upon herself and all her family, that the unfortunate young woiiian, summoning ail her courage, gaily leapt into the flames, which were already devouring the dead body of her hus- band. " On the death of the reigning king, the whole of his wives and concubines, sometimes to the num- ber of a hundrf^d, or a hundred and fifty, devote themselves to the flames. None of them are previous- ly poignarded, a distinction confined to this occa- sion. As they are at such a time permitted to walk without restraint, it happened, at the funeral of the late king of Bali, that one of his women, as she was preparing to follow the example of her companions, lost her courage at sight of the dreadful preparations. She had sufficient presence of mind, in approaching the bridge, to ask leave to withdraw for a moment on some common pretext, which being granted without any suspicion, she be- took herself to flight with all possible speed. The singularity of the circumstance, rather than any mo- tive of compassion, saved her life, and gave her her freedom. We were assured that she came daily to the public market to sell provisions, but that she was regarded by all persons of rank with the last degree of contempt, though custom had taught her to bear with the most cruel raillery. " Another object of contempt among this people, and for a reason sufficiently singular, is the female