GIVEN TO THE FLAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

GIVEN TO THE FLAMES.

AMAZING "SUTTEE" STORY.

WIDOWS DETERMINATION.

A Brahmin woman recently accompanied the dead body of her husband from a village fifteen mike away to Barh, in the Patna district, for cremation near the Umarnath Temple. As the funeral pro cession was arriving, it was widely proclaimed that the woman intended to become "suttee." A police inspector hurried to the spot with a force of constables. A crowd of 5000 persons was present.

The police inspector used all his powers of persuasion on the woman and her relatives, but without effect. To disperse the crowd was impossible with the small force of police available, but the inspector formed a cordon of constables around the pyre, which was as yet unlighted. The widow seated herself on the pyre with her husband's body in her arms. A great shout was raised of "Suttee Kijai" (Glory to suttee), and suddenly the woman's clothes hurst into flames. No one had been seen to approach the woman, nor was she seen to kindle anything. The assembled crowd was convinced that a miracle had occurred and that the woman, with true '•'suttee" strength and religious faith, had lighted her clothes.

Presently the woman, unable long to endure the pain and badly burnt, fell into the Ganges, on the brink of which the pyre was built, dragging the body with her. The corpse floated downstream, while two constables, amid the hostile murmurings of the crowd* rescued the woman and brought her to the bank. No persuasion would induce the woman to leave the Burning Ghat, and her relatives would not move her. The temper of the crowd became such that the police dare not attempt to move her, and she lay there for two days and nights. It was decided, though by whom is uncertain, that the unfinished ceremony must be completed. Apparently when the body of her husband was no longer available the demands of religion c<yild be satisfied if the fire were rekindled by lighting the wooden sandals of the deceased man. Early in the morning the pyre was lighted, but the police prevented the woman from throwing herself on to it Meanwhile, newß of the miracle had spread and thousands of people flockcd to the Burning Ghat to pay homage to the suttee." Motor buses were taken off their usual routes to convey parties t» Barh. The cremation ground Boon resembled a fair,, and the "suttee" lay on a bed with a Brahmin at each corner reading the Scriptures.

A subdivisional officer now arrived and telegraphed to Patna for armed police. Before these came the subdivisional officer succeeded in arresting three persons who were taking a prominent part in the cere™ony - The police eventually carried off the suttee" on a stretcher to gaol; The crowd resented this interf ence, but dispersed disappointed. The woman was about 18 years of age.