its issue, they were often interrupted with remarks made in the crowd, in which Veenah’s name or mine were mentioned—­some lamenting her cruel fate, others pitying mine; but all condemning and execrating Shunah Shoo.  Fortunately I was not recognised by any whom I saw.  When we reached the spot selected for the sacrifice, the crowd that had there assembled, was not so great as to prevent our getting near the funeral pile; but the numbers continued to augment, until nothing could be seen from the slight eminence on which I stood, but one dense mass of heads, all looking one way, and expressing the intense interest they felt.  At length a murmur, like that of distant thunder, ran through the crowd:  a passage was, with some difficulty, effected through the multitude by the officers in attendance, and the wretched Veenah made her appearance, supported by her own father on one side, and an uncle on the other—­pale enough to be taken for an European—­emaciated indeed, but still retaining the same exquisite beauty of features and symmetry of form.  She moved with the air of one who was utterly indifferent to the concerns of this world, and to the awful fate which awaited her.  She turned her head on hearing the sound of my voice, and, seeing me, shrieked out, “He lives! he lives!” but immediately afterwards fainted in the arms of her supporters:  at the same moment I was forcibly held back by some of the attendants, and a number of the bystanders rushed in between us, and intercepted my view.  I heard my name now repeated in every direction by the multitude—­some calling out to the priests to desist, and others to proceed.  I struggled to extricate myself, and passion lent me momentary strength; but it was insufficient.  After a short interval, I distinctly heard Veenah imploring them to spare her.  I called to the Brahmins who held her, to leave her to herself.  I endeavoured to rouse the multitude; but they took the precaution to drown our voices, by the musical instruments which are used on these occasions.  Four of these monsters I saw profaning the name of religion, by forcibly placing their victim on the pile, under the show of assisting her to mount it; and there held her down, beside the dead body of her husband, until, by cords provided for the purpose, she was prevented from rising.  I besought—­I threatened—­I raved;—­but all thoughts and minds were engrossed by the premature fate of one so young and beautiful, and I was unheeded.

“Among the relatives who pressed around the funeral pile, I saw Balty Mahu; and indignation for a moment got the better of grief.  The pile was now lighted, and in a moment all was hidden in smoke.  I sickened at the sight, and was obliged to turn away.  Even then I heard, or thought I heard, the dying shrieks of the victim, amid the groans and cries, and the thousand shouts that rent the air!  The pile and its contents being now enveloped in flame, my keepers set me free, when, by an impulse of frenzy, I rushed’ to the pile, to make a last vain effort to rescue Veenah, or to share her fate; but was stopped by some of the bystanders, who called my act a profanation.