CHAPTER VI. "And with cursed things His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned." "Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; Though for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, PARADISE LOST. Book 1. ELIZABETH gladly availed herself of Mr. Russell's kind offer. She had desired her ayah to awake her early; so before day break she was dressed and ready. Restless and unhappy, she sought change of place, in hopes of obtaining change of feeling. Mr. Russell proposed showing her one of the greatest Hindoo temples in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. In the multitude of these places, there are always some of greater sanctity than the rest. This was famous for the number of its Brahmins, and the sacri fices offered, and vows paid at the shrine. They took the road to Callia Ghaut, on the banks of a small "nullah," or channel of communication between the Sunderbunds and Hoogly. Hindoo buildings verify a remark which architects have often made," that the various styles of architecture peculiar to different countries have all arisen from the aboriginal huts or caves of the inhabitants; " an observation which may strike any one, on seeing the common straw thatched native hut, and near it the aspiring Hindoo Temple, raising itself like a succession of huts, one above the other, decreasing in size as they ascend, until they terminate in a durable pyramid. The only difference between the temple and its prototype is, that the latter is merely straw mats and bamboos, while the former is substantial mason work. Mr. Russell had no sooner turned out of the shaded lane leading down to the Temple, than they perceived, by the immense concourse of natives collected, that some ceremony was to be enacted. He was perfectly acquainted with native manners, and no sooner cast his eyes upon a large well built pile of dry fire wood, than he divined what was going forward, and instantly turning his horses' heads homeward, observed, "There is too great a crowd to day, Miss Elizabeth, to admit of our seeing the place." Elizabeth had also observed the pile, and a troop of high caste natives who were advancing towards it. Her curiosity was excited, and though Mr. Russell gave his horses the whip, he could not disengage them time enough from the crowd, to prevent her noticing an elegantly formed, but completely veiled native woman, who walked steadily on, amid the uproar of tom-toms * and conches, which rent the air; the attendants carrying wreaths and offerings of flowers, as if for sacrifice. A suspicion of the horrid truth burst on Elizabeth's mind, and involuntarily seizing Mr. Russell's arm, she exclaimed in agony: "O stop them! stop them! let me get out and stop them!" 66 My dear Miss Elizabeth," said Mr. Russell, with strong feeling, "I shall never forgive * Drums. myself for subjecting you to this. No power of mine can avail that benighted crowd, who look upon their present act, as the most sacred they can offer to the Deity, the most honourable for themselves, and the most advantageous for the party concerned. Judge if any thing short of an armed force could prevent it." Elizabeth groaned, and trembling with conflicting emotions, leant back in the carriage and gave a loose to her tears-vain, impotent tears, which fell in showers as the voice of the congregated multitude struck her ear. Mr. Russell's kind heart was grieved beyond expression; and he with difficulty articulated to his poor companion the words of unavailing sorrow. Once only, when at a distance, she looked back, and with a fearful shudder saw a long column of smoke, rising above the trees, and darkening the morning air. "Accursed practices!" said Mr. Russell, his eyes following Elizabeth's; "but do not let this scene, which I have unintentionally been the means of bringing before you, disquiet you too deeply. It is appointed for us all once to die, and in their miserable ignorance they must 151 think it better to quit the scene with honour, as that poor victim has done, than drag out life in hopeless degradation, as would otherwise have been her lot." Elizabeth's heart was too full to reason, she only felt. On reaching her own apartment, she repeatedly bathed her eyes in rose-water, to remove the traces of tears, but did not succeed so well, but that Mrs. Russell at breakfast observed she had been weeping. Mr. Russell hastened to explain, by confessing," that he had been so unfortunate, as to drive Miss Elizabeth to Callia Ghaut at the time of a Suttee." * "The horrid wretches!" returned Mrs. Russell, with an expression of disgust; "no wonder dear Elizabeth has suffered." Charlotte inquired the meaning of the term Suttee, and what could possibly lead to such usages? "A combination of the strongest of all human feelings," returned Mr. Russell," and the most * Burning a Hindoo widow, on the funeral pile of her husband. |