the same ceremony, but without using her hair as a
towel. The young couple were married. The drums and the tom-toms rolled
once more; and half-deaf we started for home.----

In the tent we found the Akali in the middle of a sermon, delivered for
the edification of the "mute general" and Mr. Y----. He was explaining
to them the advantages of the Sikh religion, and comparing it with the
faith of the "devil-worshipers," as he called the Brahmans.

It was too late to go to the caves, and, besides, we had had enough
sights for one day. So we sat down to rest, and to listen to the words
of wisdom falling from the lips of the "God's warrior." In my humble
opinion, he was right in more than one thing; in his most imaginative
moments Satan himself could not have invented anything more unjust
and more refinedly cruel than what was invented by these "twice-born"
egotists in their relation to the weaker sex. An unconditioned civil
death awaits her in case of widowhood--even if this sad fate befalls
her when she is two or three years old. It is of no importance for the
Brahmans if the marriage never actually took place; the goat sacrifice,
at which the personal presence of the little girl is not even
required--she being represented by the wretched victim--is considered
binding for her. As for the man, not only is he permitted to have
several lawful wives at a time, but he is even required by the law to
marry again if his wife dies. Not to be unjust, I must mention that,
with the exception of some vicious and depraved Rajas, we never heard
of a Hindu availing himself of this privilege, and having more than one
wife.

At the present time, the whole of orthodox India is shaken by the
struggle in favor of the remarriage of widows. This agitation was begun
in Bombay, by a few reformers, and opponents of Brahmans. It is already
ten years since Mulji-Taker-Sing and others raised this question; but
we know only of three or four men who have dared as yet to marry widows.
This struggle is carried on in silence and secrecy, but nevertheless it
is fierce and obstinate.

In the meanwhile, the fate of the widow is what the Brahmans wish it to
be. As soon as the corpse of her husband is burned the widow must shave
her head, and never let it grow again as long as she lives. Her bangles,
necklaces and rings are broken to pieces and burned, together with her
hair and her husband's remains. During the rest of her life she must
wear nothing but w