the life of william carey-第25章
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hesitate to declare myself a missionary to the heathen； though I would not on any account return myself as such to the Governor…General in Council。〃
Two years before this； in 1797； Carey had written：〃This mission should be strengthened as much as possible； as its situation is such as may put it in our power； eventually； to spread the Gospel through the greatest part of Asia； and almost all the necessary languages may be learned here。〃 He had just returned from his first long missionary tour among the Bhooteas； who from Tibet had overrun the eastern Himalaya from Darjeeling to Assam。 Carey and Thomas were received as Christian Lamas by the Soobah or lieutenant…governor of the country below the hills； which in 1865 we were compelled to annex and now administer as Jalpaigori District。 They seemed to have been the first Englishmen who had entered the territory since the political and commercial missions of Bogle and Buchanan…Hamilton sent by Warren Hastings。
〃The genuine politeness and gentleman…like behaviour of the Soobah exceeded everything that can be imagined； and his generosity was astonishing。 He insisted on supplying all our people with everything they wanted； and if we did but cast our eyes to any object in the room； he immediately presented us with one of the same sort。 Indeed he seemed to interpret our looks before we were aware； and in this manner he presented each of us that night with a sword； shield； helmet； and cup； made of a very light beautiful wood； and used by all the Bhooteas for drinking in。 We admiring the wood； he gave us a large log of it； which appears to be like fir； with a very dark beautiful grain： it is full of a resin or turpentine； and burns like a candle if cut into thin pieces； and serves for that use。 In eating； the Soobah imitated our manners so quickly and exactly； that though he had never seen a European before； yet he appeared as free as if he had spent his life with them。 We ate his food； though I confess the thoughts of the Jinkof's bacon made me eat rather sparingly。 We had much talk about Bhootan； and about the Gospel。
〃We found that he had determined to give all the country a testimony of his friendship for us in a public manner； and the next day was fixed on to perform the ceremony in our tent on the market…place。 Accordingly we got instructed in the necessary etiquette； and informed him we were only coming a short journey to see the country； were not provided with English cloth； etc。； for presents。 The time being come； we were waited on by the Soobah； followed by all his servants； both Bhooteas and Hindus。 Being seated； we exchanged each five rupees and five pieces of betel； in the sight of the whole town； and having chewed betel for the first time in our lives； we embraced three times in the Eastern manner； and then shook hands in the English manner； after which； he made us a present of a piece of rich debang wrought with gold； each a Bhootan blanket； and the tail of an animal called the cheer cow； as bushy as a horse's； and used in the Hindu worship。。。In the morning； the Soobah came with his usual friendship； and brought more presents； which we received； and took our leave。 He sent us away with every honour he could heap upon us； as a band of music before us； guides to show us the way； etc。。。。The Soobah is to pay us a visit in a little time； which I hope to improve for the great end of settling a mission in that country。〃
Carey applied his unusual powers of detailed observation and memory in noting the physical and mental characteristics of these little Buddhists； the structure of the language and nature of their books； beliefs； and government； all of which he afterwards utilised。 He was often in sight of snowy Kinchinjinga （28；156 feet）； behind Darjeeling； and when the Soobah； being sick； afterwards sent messengers with gifts to induce him to return； he wrote：〃I hope to ascend those stupendous mountains； which are so high as to be seen at a distance of 200 or 250 miles。 One of these distant mountains； which is seen at Mahipal； is concealed from view by the tops of a nearer range of hills； when you approach within sixty miles of them。 The distant range forms an angle of about ten degrees with the horizon。〃 But the time did not come for a mission to that region till the sanitarium of Darjeeling became the centre of another British district opened up by railway from Calcutta； and now the aboriginal Lepchas are coming in large numbers into the church。 Subsequent communications from the Soobah informed them of the Garos of Assam。
On his last visit to Calcutta； in 1799； 〃to get types cast for printing the Bible；〃 Carey witnessed that sight of widow…burning which was to continue to disgrace alike the Hindoos and the Company's Government until his incessant appeals in India and in England led to its prevention in 1829。 In a letter to Dr。 Ryland he thus describes the horrid rite：
〃MUDNABATI； 1st April 1799。As I was returning from Calcutta I saw the Sahamaranam； or； a woman burning herself with the corpse of her husband； for the first time in my life。 We were near the village of Noya Serai； or； as Rennell calls it in his chart of the Hoogli river； Niaverai。 Being evening； we got out of the boat to walk； when we saw a number of people assembled on the river…side。 I asked them what they were met for； and they told me to burn the body of a dead man。 I inquired if his wife would die with him； they answered Yes； and pointed to the woman。 She was standing by the pile； which was made of large billets of wood； about two and a half feet high； four feet long； and two wide； on the top of which lay the dead body of her husband。 Her nearest relation stood by her； and near her was a small basket of sweetmeats called Thioy。 I asked them if this was the woman's choice； or if she were brought to it by any improper influence？ They answered that it was perfectly voluntary。 I talked till reasoning was of no use； and then began to exclaim with all my might against what they were doing； telling them that it was a shocking murder。 They told me it was a great act of holiness； and added in a very surly manner； that if I did not like to see it I might go farther off； and desired me to go。 I told them that I would not go； that I was determined to stay and see the murder； and that I should certainly bear witness of it at the tribunal of God。 I exhorted the woman not to throw away her life； to fear nothing； for no evil would follow her refusal to burn。 But she in the most calm manner mounted the pile； and danced on it with her hands extended； as if in the utmost tranquillity of spirit。 Previous to her mounting the pile the relation； whose office it was to set fire to the pile； led her six times round it； at two intervalsthat is； thrice at each circumambulation。 As she went round she scattered the sweetmeat above mentioned among the people； who picked it up and ate it as a very holy thing。 This being ended； and she having mounted the pile and danced as above mentioned （N。B。The dancing only appeared to be to show us her contempt of death； and prove to us that her dying was voluntary）； she lay down by the corpse； and put one arm under its neck and the other over it； when a quantity of dry cocoa…leaves and other substances were heaped over them to a considerable height； and then Ghee； or melted preserved butter； poured on the top。 Two bamboos were then put over them and held fast down； and fire put to the pile； which immediately blazed very fiercely； owing to the dry and combustible materials of which it was composed。 No sooner was the fire kindled than all the people set up a great shoutHurree…Bol； Hurree…Bol； which is a common shout of joy； and an invocation of Hurree； or Seeb。 It was impossible to have heard the woman had she groaned； or even cried aloud； on account of the mad noise of the people； and it was impossible for her to stir or struggle on account of the bamboos which were held down on her like the levers of a press。 We made much objection to their using these bamboos； and insisted that it was using force to prevent the woman from getting up when the fire burned her。 But they declared that it was only done to keep the pile from falling down。 We could not bear to see
