Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in 80 Days

Next came the musicians

Sir Francis watched the procession with a sad countenance, and, turning to the guide, said, “A suttee[69 - suttee – сати (устаревший похоронный ритуал в индуизме, в соответствии с которым вдова подлежит сожжению на погребальном костре вместе с покойным супругом)].”

The Parsee nodded, and put his finger to his lips. The procession slowly wound under the trees, and soon its last ranks disappeared in the depths of the wood.

Phileas Fogg had heard what Sir Francis said, and, as soon as the procession had disappeared, asked: “What is a suttee?”

“A suttee,” returned the general, “is a human sacrifice, but a voluntary one. The woman you have just seen will be burned tomorrow at the dawn of day.”

“Oh, the scoundrels!” cried Passepartout, who could not repress his indignation.

“And the corpse?” asked Mr.

“Is that of the prince, her husband,” said the guide; “an independent rajah of Bundelcund[70 - Bundelcund – Бунделкханд].”

“Is it possible,” resumed Phileas Fogg, “that these barbarous customs still exist in India, and that the English have been unable to put a stop to them?”

“These sacrifices do not occur in the larger portion of India,” replied Sir Francis; “but we have no power over these savage territories, and especially here in Bundelcund.

“The poor wretch!” exclaimed Passepartout, “To be burned alive!”

“Yes,” returned Sir Francis, “burned alive. And the sacrifice which will take place tomorrow at dawn is not a voluntary one.”

“How do you know?”

“Everybody knows about this affair in Bundelcund.”

“But the wretched creature did not seem to be making any resistance,” observed Sir Francis.

“That was because they had intoxicated her with fumes of hemp and opium.”

“But where are they taking her?”

“To the pagoda of Pillaji[71 - Pillaji – Пилладжи], two miles from here; she will pass the night there.”

“And the sacrifice will take place—”

“Tomorrow, at the first light of dawn.”

Just at the moment that the guide was about to urge Kiouni forward with a peculiar whistle, Mr.