Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 3.djvu/230

Rh by the texts from sacred works, to which popular credence has been given, and on which the dreadful custom was no doubt originally founded. " fire," it is written in the Eig Veda, "let these women, with bodies anointed with clarified butter, eyes (coloured) with stibium, and void of tears, enter thee, the parent of water, that they may not be separated from their husbands, be sinless, and jewels among women." Again, in the Mahabharat: "If a woman who had despised her husband, and had done what was contrary to his mind, should, even from mercenary motives, as fear, or a suspension of the reasoning powers, die with her husband, she shall be purged from all crime." Other works abound with promises, like the following, to virtuous women who burn themselves with their husbands: "There is no greater virtue;" "The woman who expires on the funeral pile with her husband, purifies the family of her mother, her father, and her husband, and frees them from the consequences of sin;" and many others to the same effect.

The question was, however, boldly assailed by Lord William Bentinck, on his arrival in India as Governor-General; and during the discussion which followed, the authenticity of the texts quoted, and many others, was doubted. They were considered Brahminical interpolations by many learned native scholars; and, finally, the rite was abolished by law in all British provinces. This was followed up by Lord Hardinge in 1846, who, with the consent of the independent princes of India, abolished it in their dominions. Moreover a law has since been passed, making the re-marriage of Hindoo widows, including Brahmins and all other castes, lawful; so that they are protected from all violence on the part of their kindred, and are free to act as they please. This no doubt accounts for the Brahmin widow represented, living at Hurdwar upon public charity, and is, in fact, a proof of the effectual protection extended to all classes, even to previously helpless widows, by the British Government. But it is very doubtful whether the widows of the higher castes and classes will ever avail themselves of the legal power to marry again, which has been accorded to them. The obloquy of the measure attaches itself to all, both to male and female, even though the latter be of tender age, and consequently the movement of public opinion in favour and exercise of the privilege has been very slow. Among the lower classes and sects, however, re-marriage is of frequent occurrence, exposing the widow to no reproach whatever. Among such classes re-marriage can take place at any age, and whether the woman have children or not; and those whose husbands have died in their youth, are almost as a rule re-married—unless, indeed, they take upon themselves vows of future celibacy, which are not uncommon. Widows of the lower classes are subject to no personal disfigurement. They can wear ordinary coloured clothes, retain their hair, and wear certain ornaments of gold or silver; but they usually discard the glass rings or bangles on their wrists, which are broken at the place of the husband's cremation or burial, and are not renewed.