could not repress his
indignation.

"And that dead body?" said Mr. Fogg.

"Is that of her husband--a prince," replied the guide. "He was an
independent rajah in Bundelcund."

"Do you mean to say that these barbarous customs still obtain in
India--under British rule?" said Mr. Fogg, without betraying any
emotion whatever.

"In the greater portion of India," replied Sir Francis Cromarty,
"these sacrifices do not take place; but we have no authority in the
savage districts, one of the principal of which is Bundelcund. The
entire district north of the Vindhia range is the theatre of pillage
and murder."

"Poor creature," exclaimed Passe-partout; "burned alive!"

"Yes," continued the general, "burned alive; and if she was not, you
have no idea to what a wretched condition she would be reduced by her
relatives. They would shave off her hair, feed her very scantily upon
rice, and hold no communication with her, for she would be regarded as
unclean, and would die like a dog. The prospect of such treatment,
even more strongly than affection or religious fanaticism, often urges
the widows to submit themselves to suttee. Sometimes, however, the act
is really voluntary, and energetic interference by the Government is
necessary to prevent it. Some years ago, when I was in Bombay, a young
widow asked the governor's leave to be burned with her late husband's
body. As you may imagine, he refused her request. Then the
disconsolate widow left the town, took refuge with an independent
rajah, and burned herself, to the satisfaction of all concerned."

As the general proceeded, the guide nodded in assent to the
truthfulness of the relation, and when the speaker had finished, the
Parsee said:

"But the suttee to take place to-morrow is not voluntary."

"How do you know?"

"Everyone in Bundelcund knows that," replied the guide.

"Yet the unfortunate woman offered no resistance," said Sir Francis
Cromarty.

"Because she was drugged with hemp and opium," replied the Parsee.

"But whither are they taking her?"

"To the Pagoda of Pillaji, two miles away from here. There she will
pass the night, and wait for the hour appointed for the sacrifice."

"And the sacrifice will take place?"

"At dawn to-morrow."

As he spoke, the guide led forth the elephant and clambered up to his
seat on its neck; but just as he was about to whistle to the animal to
proceed, Mr. Fogg stopped him, and said to Sir Francis Cromarty,
"Suppose we sav