Origin, nature, atrocity, and appalling scenes connected with Page. Nature and success of efforts for the abolition of the Slave pre- Methods proposed for the melioration and abolition of Slavery APPENDIX. Containing Humane Hints for the melioration of society in 404 459 491 xi EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS. THE SUTTEES' CRY.-"We strongly recommend the perusal of Mr. Peggs' Pamphlet, which, to the feeling testimony of AN EYE-WITNESS of the horrible practice he describes, adds a mass of information, and documents of the most valuable and decisive nature."-Eclec. Rev. June, 1827. "This interesting Pamphlet is every way deserving of serious perusal and extensive circulation."-Chris. Guardian, June. "To this publication we solicit the attention of such readers as desire to make themselves acquainted with the farther details of this important question" (the Suttee).-Orient. Her. May, 1829. "Mr. Peggs' Appeal is forcible, but dispassionate; and we hope that, in behalf of the widows in India, he will not plead in vain."-Imp. Mag. July, 1827, and May, 1828. "A valuable collection of papers."-Evan. Mag. Aug. 1828. "The able Pamphlet before us contains much information, collected from the most authentic sources."-Wes. Mag. June, 1827. "This excellent Pamphlet is evidently the result of much labour and research."-Bap. Mag. June. See also "Congregat. Mag." Jan. 1828-"Missionary Reg.," "Asiatic Journal," "Sailors," " Part. Bap. Mag.," "Gen. Bap. Repos.," 1827— The World Paper," April, 1829. BRITISH CONNEXION WITH IDOLATRY IN INDIA.-"We earnestly recommend the perusal of these facts and observations to the consideration of the Christian public."-Eclec. Rev. March, 1828. "The Pilgrim Tax levied by the Indian Government on idolaters going on pilgrimages, whatever was its design, has had the acknowledged effect of sanctioning and legalizing this destructive and wicked superstition. The Rev. J. Peggs, late a Missionary near the Temple of Juggernaut, has recently published a Pamphlet, in which he has collected abundant testimony to the duty, facility, and advantages of the entire and immediate abandonment of this pernicious system."-Mis. Reg. Feb. "This Pamphlet relates to a subject which appears to have received a very inadequate share of public attention, and with the details of which, we suspect, many of the best informed and most influential members of society are very imperfectly acquainted. We cordially recommend it to the attention of our readers."-Bap. Miscellany, Oct. "Great credit is due to the excellent Author of these two Pamphlets (the Suttees' Cry and Pilgrim Tax), for the pains which he has taken in collecting information concerning some of the most cruel and destructive superstitions of India, and in presenting it to the British public in a cheap form. We know of no publications in the English language, which, in so small a compass, contain so much information on these subjects, so interesting to every friend of humanity and religion."-Wes. Mag. May. "We believe that the Pamphlet before us is the only exposure of the system which has found its way through the press to the English public. We hope it will be widely circulated, and followed by others, in increasing numbers, until the evil is at an end, and the disgrace wiped away." -Month. Rep. Dec. 1829. See also "Congregat. Magazine," Jan. and Feb.-"Bap. Magazine," "Gen. Bap. Repository," "The World," April, 1828. xii GHAUT MURDERS IN INDIA."We are sorry we have lost even an hour in introducing this cheap, important, and stirring Pamphlet to the notice of our readers. We have gone through it with astonishment and shame; astonishment, that a practice, like that on which this work principally treats, should be allowed by the British Government; and shame, that Christians, so much alive to the very name of oppression in England, should not have arisen as one man to appeal to British humanity and justice' in the senate of our land. We implore Christians to make a determined effort on this subject; and we entreat Mr. Peggs to allow the Christian public no rest till the great object of his desires is accomplished."-Bap. Mag. Apr. 1829. "If there be the least spark of benevolence yet alive in the breasts of Englishmen, this appeal will not be in vain.-The World, June. See "Imp. Mag.” April, “Gen. Bap. Rep." Jan. 1829. "INFANTICIDE.-The author has brought an abundance of matter into a small compass; by carefully selecting the best articles written on the subject, from the pens of those best qualified to treat of it, he has compiled a work which will be read with interest, by all who are not sntirely indifferent to the interests of their fellow-creatures. He is evidently impressed with the magnitude and importance of the subject, and we sincerely hope he will not labour unsuccessfuly, in making it as evident to the minds of others."--Ori. Quar. Rev. Jan. 1830. INDIA'S CRIES TO BRITISH HUMANITY (First Edition).-"This volume furnishes on this subject (the safety of the abolition of Suttees), and on the several subjects to which its title-page refers, the most accurate and ample information. Mr. Peggs has entitled himself to the thanks of the British public for his reiterated appeals. We beseech our readers to acquaint themselves with his statements, and to let no opportunity be neglected of advancing his benevolent aim."-The World, July, 29, 1829. "These publications are the fruits of Mr. P.'s observation and reading, and demand attention from all who desire to free their country from the guilt of conniving at the atrocious practices therein exposed."-Mis. Register, March. "A very interesting little work."-J. S. Buckingham, Esq. "The public are much indebted to Mr. P., for his enlightened and indefatigable labours in the cause of humanity. He has fairly made out his premises, that all the murderous customs now practised by the Hindoos, may be abolished with safety and honour to the British Government. We earnestly entreat our readers to peruse these Tracts. They are altogether resistless in their appeals."- Evan. Mag. March, 1829. "Those who, like Mr. Peggs, furnish us with a faithful representation of facts, on which to ground our efforts for the melioration of the state of the Hindoos, deserve the thanks, not of India alone, but every friend of humanity in the country which governs India. For the zeal and industry with which this gentleman has been enabled to lay before the public so large a body of important facts, and for the benevolence with which he has long laboured to redress the miseries of the heathen population of India, his Christian brethren, of every denomination, must feel deeply indebted to him. We hope that his exertions will result in success; and that his appeal, to the natural sympathies and benevolent principles of his countrymen, will not be unheard or disregarded."-Month. Rep. Dec. 1829. See "Asiatic Journal," March, " Imp. Mag." May, 1829. INDIA'S CRIES TO BRITISH HUMANITY. BOOK I. SUTTEE S. CHAPTER I. Origin—nature—number—cause of principal prevalence in Bengal—and atrocity of Suttees. Suttee is the name given in India to a woman who immolates herself on the funeral pile of her husband, and denotes that the female is considered true or faithful to him, even unto death; the term is also applied to the rite itself. Diodorus Siculus, who twice refers to the practice of Suttee, in the 103rd and 106th Olympiad, or B. C. 327 and 314 years, supposes the practice to have originated in the unfaithfulness of the women to their husbands, and their taking them off by mixing deadly plants with their food. This wicked practice," says he, "increasing, and many falling victims to it, and the punishment of the guilty not serving to deter others from the commission of the crime, a law was passed, that wives should be burned with their deceased husbands, except such as were pregnant and had children; and that any individual who refused to comply with this law should be compelled to remain a widow, and be for ever excluded from all rights and privileges, as guilty of impiety. This measure being adopted, it followed that the abominable disposition to which the wives were addicted was converted into an opposite feeling. For, in order to avoid that climax of disgrace, every wife being obliged to die, they not only took all possible care of their husband's safety, but emulated each other in promoting B |