i'm just reading about this now. initially i thought this probably wasn't such a big deal since there are analogies with other cultures like egypt and carthage, but it seems so widespread and persistent throughout time that it must be a terrible negative genetic factor as well. > franois bernier (16201688) gave the following description: > at lahor i saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, i think, have been more than twelve years of age. the poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit: the agony of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the brahmens, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive.  yikes.   (practice)
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