, stepped into the centre of
the flame, sat down, and leaning back in the midst as if reposing
upon a couch, was consumed without uttering a shriek or betraying
one sign of agony."

In cases, however, where women shrank from the flames they were
frequently forced into them, as it was a terrible disgrace to their
families that they should recoil on the scene of the sacrifice. Opium
and other drugs were also administered to stupefy the woman and prevent
her from feeling pain. Widows were sometimes buried alive with their
dead husbands. The practice of _sati_ was finally prohibited in 1829,
without exciting the least discontent.

14. Funeral rites and mourning.

The bodies of children dying before they are named, or before the
tonsure ceremony is performed on them, are buried, and those of other
persons are burnt. In the grave of a small child some of its mother's
milk, or, if this is not available, cow's milk in a leaf-cup or earthen
vessel, is placed. Before a body is burnt cakes of wheat-flour are put
on the face, breast and both shoulders, and a coin is always deposited
for the purchase of the site. Mourning or impurity is observed for
varying periods, according to the nearness of relationship. For a
child, relatives other than the parents have only to take a bath to
remove the impurity caused by the death. In a small town or village all
Brahmans of the same subcaste living in the place are impure from the
time of the death until cremation has taken place. After the funeral
the chief mourner performs the _shraddh_ ceremony, offering _pindas_
or cakes of rice, with libations of water, to the dead. Presents are
made to Brahmans for the use of the dead man in the other world, and
these are sometimes very valuable, as it is thought that the spirit
will thereby be profited. Such presents are taken by the Maha-Brahman,
who is much despised. When a late zamindar of Khariar died, Rs. 2000
were given to the Maha-Brahman for the use of his soul in the next
world. The funeral rites are performed by an ordinary Brahman, known
as Malai, who may receive presents after the period of impurity has
expired. Formerly a calf was let loose in the name of the deceased
after being branded with the mark of a trident to dedicate it to Siva,
and allowed to wander free thenceforth. Sometimes it was formally
married to three or four female calves, and these latter were presented
to Brahmans. Sometimes the calf was brought to stand over t