Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 14

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JANUARY, 1874.
the villagers collectively three sheep and three off to a stone pillar about twenty yards in front rupees. For this the washerman is supposed of the temple. to supply all the cotton rags used for torches. The Holeya women now advanced towards the While the executioner was trying to prove that fire-pit singing hymns of praise, and, having the failure in taking off the head at one blow marched three times round the pit instead of the was not his fault, old men and young gathered temple, handed their baskets to some men standing round the brink of the pit, both to prevent the on the edge. The men, by a wavy motion of the women from escaping the passage through the hands from left to right and in the direction of fire, and to make fun of those who by a skip and the goddess, consecrated the offering. A handful a hop, or by placing their feet on the sides, tried of flowers was taken out of the basket and to save their soles. The temple being small, only thrown into the pit, which was soon filled. As a dozen women or so could get in at one time. each woman received back her basket she paid This prolonged the ceremony, since the women one pie to the priest, who remained standing had to pass through in batches. After a good on the steps of the portico. The women now deal of screaming, shouting, and hustling, the retired. In the meanwhile some men had been last batch passed the ordeal.
busy tying, at about four feet from the ground, No widow is allowed to walk through the across the stone pillar behind which the buffire, and each house must send at least one faloes were ranged, a beam of wood. Everywoman to take part in the ceremony. On thing being ready, the jostling, shouting crowd presenting her offering, each woman gave to of Holeyas suddenly became silent. The potail the priest one pie and then went home. By of the village, in the full blaze of all the torches, this time the fire in the pit was out. From the advanced towards the pillars and consecrated the description one reads of walking through fire, animals by sprinkling water over them. Of the I expected something sensational. Nothing four buffaloes three were presented by the could be more tame than the ceremony we saw Holeyas: the fourth and first sacrificed had been performed ; in which there never was nor ever purchased by the villagers collectively. On the could be the slightest danger to life. Some word being given, ropes were attached to the young girl whose soles were tender might next horns of the buffalo, passed over the beam, and morning find she had a blister, but this would the brute hauled up until his hind legs only be the extent of harm she could receive.
rested on the ground, while the head was seThis was the end of act three. The square curely fixed to the beam. A Holeya stepped was again deserted, the crowd having gone off forward and with a large knife managed to sever to see the entry into the village of the Holeyas the head from the body. The head was unfasand the buffaloes. The potail of the village tened, brought forward, and laid on some flowers alone invites the Holeyes, the outcaste race in front of the pit. The right leg was cut off whose quarters are outside the village. Nobelow the knee, skinned, and, all red and gory, punchayet or deputation accompanies him. placed in the mouth. Next a piece of fat was Presently the procession entered the square, and cut out of the chest : this with a lamp and some by the flickering light of the torches we saw rice was placed on the brute's head. The Holeya four buffaloes: two full-grown males and two with folded hands made his obeisance to the godyoung ones. The Holeya women were fewer in dess, and returned to the pillar, when the second number than those who had gone before, but, buffalo was tied up in the same manner as the like them, carried a basket ornamented with first. The executioners, however, either through flowers having a lighted lamp in the centre. nervousness, or the neck of the brute proving In all the baskets a number of white powers too tough, failed to cut off the head in three were to be seen which are specially sacred to blows, the full number considered lucky. He the village goddess. The Holeya women halted made his fourth and succeeding blows amidst while the buffaloes were dragged by a crowd of the groans and hisses of the now excited crowd. men and boys round the temple. In the If the executioner fails to cut off the head in course of the circuit the buffaloes were made three blows, the bystanders have the privilege to jump over the fire-trench. After having of hitting him while he goes on hacking at the completed the third round they were carried neck. On this occasion they used their privi