"Is it a suttee?" The Parsee made a sign in the affirmative, and put his fingers on his lips. The long procession wended its way slowly amongst the trees, and before long the last of it disappeared in the depths of the forest. The music gradually died away, occasionally a few cries could be heard, but soon they ceased, and silence reigned around. Phileas Fogg had heard what Sir Francis had said, and as soon as the procession had passed out of sight, he said: "What is a suttee?" "A suttee," replied the general, "is a human sacrifice--but a voluntary one. That woman you saw just now will be burned to-morrow morning at daylight." "The scoundrels!" exclaimed Passe-partout, who 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."