登陆注册
3554200000022

第22章 (3)

The guards who followed the young woman presented a violent contrast to her,armed as they were with naked sabres hung at their waists,and long damascened pistols,and bearing a corpse on a palanquin.It was the body of an old man,gorgeously arrayed in the habiliments of a rajah,wearing,as in life,a turban embroidered with pearls,a robe of tissue of silk and gold,a scarf of cashmere sewed with diamonds,and the magnificent weapons of a Hindoo prince.Next came the musicians and a rearguard of capering fakirs,whose cries sometimes drowned the noise of the instruments;these closed the procession.

Sir Francis watched the procession with a sad countenance,and,turning to the guide,said,A suttee.

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.The songs gradually died away;occasionally cries were heard in the distance,until at last all was silence again.

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 Fogg.

Is that of the prince,her husband,said the guide;an independent rajah of Bundelcund.

Is it possible,resumed Phileas Fogg,his voice betraying not the least emotion,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 whole district north of the Vindhias is the theatre of incessant murders and pillage.

The poor wretch!exclaimed Passepartout.To be burned alive!

Yes,returned Sir Francis,burned alive.And if she were not,you cannot conceive what treatment she would be obliged to submit to from her relatives.They would shave off her hair feed her on a scanty allowance of rice,treat her with contempt;she would be looked upon as an unclean creature,and would die in some corner,like a scurvy dog.The prospect of so frightful an existence drives these poor creatures to the sacrifice much more than love or religious fanaticism.Sometimes,however,the sacrifice is really voluntary,and it requires the active interference of the Government to prevent it.Several years ago,when I was living at Bombay,a young widow asked permission of the governor to be burned along with her husband's body;but,as you may imagine,he refused.The woman left the town,took refuge with an independent rajah,and there carried out her self-devoted purpose.

While Sir Francis was speaking,the guide shook his head several times,and now said: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,two miles from here;she will pass the night there.

And the sacrifice will take place——

To-morrow,at the first light of dawn.

The guide now led the elephant out of the thicket,and leaped upon his neck.Just at the moment that he was about to urge Kiouni forward with a peculiar whistle,Mr Fogg stopped him,and,turning to Sir Francis Cromarty,said,Suppose we save this woman.

Save the woman,Mr Fogg!

I have yet twelve hours to spare;I can devote them to that.

Why,you are a man of heart!

Sometimes,replied Phileas Fogg,quietly;when I have the time.

同类推荐
  • 龙飞录

    龙飞录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 姑孰十咏

    姑孰十咏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瑞竹堂经验方

    瑞竹堂经验方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 訄书

    訄书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Heritage of the Desert

    The Heritage of the Desert

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我的猫不见了

    我的猫不见了

    让温小眠没想到的是,十岁时遇到的一只猫,会在自己的生命里纠缠一辈子。单单一辈子还不够,还要搭上前世今生。前世今生,爱猫如你,爱你如猫。也许,能有福气捉一只不一样的猫咪陪我过一辈子,蛮好。(≧^.^≦)“如果你是天使,我愿意让你随时去往你的天堂;如果你是恶魔,那么,我和你一起下地狱。”
  • 全能科技巨头

    全能科技巨头

    在一个稀疏平常的夜晚,叶华意外获得了浩如烟海般划时代的超级科技知识,从此走上科技创业之路,在全球科技界和商界不断掀起一股股汹涌的大浪潮……Ps:近未来都市+黑科技创业书友群:838271602
  • 宠爱

    宠爱

    作者胭脂泪是不折不扣的“荣迷”,她的文字,尤其是书中的多个影评,华丽精致、滴水不漏、刀枪不入的表象下,展现出一派纯净的懵懂天真!文字中,有旁若无人的自恋,有浪漫唯美的理想主义,还有文化女性所持有的孤芳自赏的些许刻薄,在这一切之上,还添加了肆无忌惮,热情与冷漠,肆无忌惮的豪迈与真挚,肆无忌惮的诱惑与风情,无处不在,在作者的文字中,有女性的细腻唯美,有贵族气息浓郁的都市风情,更有悲天悯人的人文真情,在她的文字中,有雅致的书香,诙谐的调皮;自然的坦荡,奔放的豪迈,读起来优美酣畅,自然真实。
  • 天价婚约:总裁的契约情人

    天价婚约:总裁的契约情人

    董家大小姐,漂亮聪明独立,并秘密拥有着董母生前留下的一股强大的暗势力。她与他,从小有着娃娃亲,结婚当天新郎跑去私会情人,却被暴光……当他摸进她的房,正准备一亲芳香,结婚被她一脚踹下床。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 神灵之女之命运的安排

    神灵之女之命运的安排

    因为时空漩涡,世界最高层的神灵界的神灵之女和各系的命运之子遗落到了世界各地,在这个世界里崇尚的是服装之力,不同的世界靠自己的天赋和系统分别可以衍生出普通,中档,高档,轻奢,以及最强的挚品之力,身为神灵之女,她的使命便是找到各系的命运之子,修补神之界。
  • 将军家的帮主娘子

    将军家的帮主娘子

    帮主,淮南水患。某帮主:捐!帮主,有人劫掠民女。某帮主:砍!帮主,佞臣挡道。某帮主:杀!帮主,你相公回来了。某帮主:打!给我打!给我往死里打!
  • 万界最强吻神

    万界最强吻神

    为了成为一名合格的天道继承人,获得天道系统后的王小猛开始穿越各个动漫世界的故事(已完结)(新书历史类《三国大名士》已经发布,欢迎大家继续支持)
  • 绝色宠妃

    绝色宠妃

    一个黑帮的公主,意外穿越到一个虚幻的国度。为了娘亲,女扮男装去妓院里找那个色鬼老爹,居然被美男当成青楼花魁,就这样稀里糊涂的丢了贞操。一道重如泰山的圣旨,害她被迫嫁给了流连花丛中的风流七王爷。没想到王妃的命运竟然如此凄苦!无奈她只能苦中作乐。她拜了只长她几岁的妙手怪盗为师,又得毒手神医的指点,学得不少本领,甚至连天下第一神捕也对她望而生畏!他给了她至高无上的恩宠,放纵她的任性妄为,他愿意以生命作为代价,只求第三次交出的真心,不会再遭受任何背弃。***他微微扬唇,捏住她的下巴道:“你已经是我轩辕风的女人,这辈子都别想自由,就算我死,你也不能飞向其他男人的怀抱。”他要她爱他永生永世,即使他已经从这个世界消失,他也要她至死不渝的爱着他,绝对不允许自己被她遗忘。她不急不缓的推开他道:“你也给我记住了!我的男人是不可以跟其他女人分享的。你要我可以,但是不准再碰除我以外的任何女人。”她知道在古代这个条件基本上是不可能的实现的,可是她是一个现代人,没有人希望与很多人来分享自己的爱人,她不过是想要一个专属男人而已,如果不能,她宁可独守空闺。***她气愤的给了他一记响亮的耳光,怒吼道:“你不要命了吗?你知不知道你刚才在做什么?”这个男人越来越让她心痛,每次看见他有危险她都会情绪失控。她讨厌他的疯狂,疯狂到可以拿命来玩游戏!他说:“你知道吗?我很高兴。因为你没有跳下马背,而是选择跟我共存亡!”********《失忆篇》失忆后的她,忘记了一切,也忘记了他,就在他还无法走出她突然离去的阴影时,她却成为了他人的妃子...他不惜背负杀兄弑君的罪名,也要重新把她带回自己的身边,即使,她已经不再记得他...注:本文以轻松路线为主,偶有小虐。点点玄幻+点点浪漫+点点搞笑。*******************************************推荐:有琴的青春校园文(很清新的文风,喜欢的多多捧场)**********有兴趣可以消遣一下。第一卷:乌龙穿越视频:?pstyle=1第二卷:嫁他为妃视频:?pstyle=1第三卷:千里寻夫视频:?pstyle=1第四卷:王府风云视频:?pstyle=1***本书已入五折书库,一次性订阅可享半折优惠(*^__^*)
  • 绝世废柴女

    绝世废柴女

    天啦,人家只是在新婚之夜去上了个茅房,怎么就迷迷糊糊地跑错了洞房,嫁错了新郎?没关系,杀人灭口之后,一切就都没发生过。。。。咦,哪里冒出来这么多的帅哥型男搅局?人家可是很专一的……
  • 魔术会:幻戏陷阱

    魔术会:幻戏陷阱

    国内首部大格局魔术文化悬疑小说神秘、残酷的中外魔术大对决!中华幻戏、东洋幻术、欧美魔术,台前争奇,幕后厮杀!中国魔术,又叫幻戏。起源于夏商,发扬于唐宋,到了清末和民国,迎来了中外魔术史上最神秘的交流和最残酷的对决……本书以中外魔术大交流时期民国的上海滩为舞台,带您重返中外魔术史上的巅峰对决现场,亲眼目睹传奇一幕,感受魔术千年来的传承与魅力。