Page:The Land of the Veda.djvu/398

388 He says: “Fearing intervention from the British authorities, it was decided that this solemn rite, contrary to the usual practice, should be performed at a distance from the river-side. The margin of the consecrated tank was selected for the purpose. After ceremonies of purification had been performed upon the spot, strong stakes of bamboo were driven into the ground, inclosing an oblong space about seven feet in length and six in breadth. Within this inclosure the pile was built of straw, boughs, and logs of wood; upon the top a small arbor was constructed of wreathed bamboos, and this was hung with flowers within and without. About an hour after the sun had risen, prayers and ablutions having been carefully performed by all, more especially by the Brahmins and Lall Radha, the widow, who was also otherwise purified and fitted for the sacrifice, the corpse of the husband was brought from the house, attended by the administering Brahmins, and surrounded by the silent and weeping friends and relations of the family. Immediately following the corpse came Lall Radha, enveloped in a scarlet vail, which completely hid her beautiful form from view. When the body was placed upon the pile, the feet being toward the west, the Brahmins took the vail from Lall Radha, and, for the first time, the glaring multitude were suffered to gaze upon that lovely face and form; but the holy woman was too deeply engaged in solemn prayer and converse with Brahma to be sensible of their presence, or of the murmur of admiration that ran through the crowd. Then, turning with a steady look and solemn demeanor to her relations, she took from her person, one by one, all her ornaments, and distributed them as tokens of her love. One jewel only she retained, the tali, or amulet, placed around her neck by her deceased husband on the nuptial day; this she silently pressed to her lips. Then, separately embracing each of her female relatives, and bestowing a farewell look upon the rest, she unbound her hair, which flowed in thick and shining ringlets almost to her feet, gave her right hand to the principal Brahmin, who led her with ceremony around the pile, and then stopped, with her face toward it, on the side where she was to ascend. Having mounted two or three