1 100
2 of the pile, together with the board. After this, the ranees as-
3 cended the fatal ladder, one by one, according to their rank, the
4 slaves followed, and the minister showed himself very officious
5 in affording them assistance. The ranees placed themselves
6 at the head of the royal body, and the slaves close at its feet.
7 There they cowered, remaining in silent expectation for the
8 fatal moment, when a strong thick mat of reeds being brought,
9 with which the whole were covered, oil was then poured over
10 the mat, the minister and sirdars descended, and the pile was
11 lighted at each corner. In a few moments, the deplorable victims
12 of an abominable and fanatic ceremony had ceased to exist.
13 The consuming of this pile occupied two days; on the third,
14 some of the bones and ashes of each of the bodies were col-
15 lected in the presence of the court only, and separately placed
16 in urns. After which ceremony, a preparation was made for a
17 journey, with exactly the same pomp and splendour as if the
18 maharajah and his wives were still alive. Thus their remains
19 were conveyed in five richly caparisoned palanquins by numerous
20 attendants and guards, accompanied by handsome presents, such
21 as shawls, costly decorated elephants, horses, &c., &c., to the
22 banks of the Ganges, where the Brahmins receive the whole.
23 The bones and ashes they put into the river, the other valuables
24 they distributed among themselves; nothing returning but the
25 men. The tents under which the ashes of Runjeet Sing and each
26 of the ranees were placed, were composed of the most valuable
27 Cashmere shawl materials, the props of which were of gold and
28 silver. Some millions of rupees were expended in this outfit.
29 Upon the procession leaving the fortress, it traversed the streets
30 and bazaars, the ministers and some of the principal sirdars on
31 foot, with numerous others mounted on their elephants and
32 horses. Thousands of persons were assembled in the streets,
33 bazaars, and on the tops of houses, by whom flowers were thrown
34 upon the palanquins. The curtains of the palanquin which
35 contained the remains of Runjeet Sing were open, while those of
36 his wives were closed, in the same manner as when travelling
37 during their lifetime. The minister walked close to the palan-