‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎44] (65/508)

The Travels of Peter Delia Val le,
more ^ were fhe fo minded, nor could fhe find any of her own
Race who would take her, becaufe (he would be accounted as
bad as infamous in defiring a fccond Marriage. Avery harq
Law indeed, and from which infinite inconveniences ante ^ tor
nota tew young Widows, who in regard of theii Reputation
cannot marry again, and have not patience to live chaftly,
commit diforders in private, efpecially with men of other Na
tions and Religions, and with any they find, provided it be
fccret. Some Widows are burnt alive, together with the bodies
of their dead Hufbands 5 a thing which anciently not onely the
Indian Women did, according to what Strabo writes from the
Relation of Onejicritus$ but alfo thechafte Wives of the ihra-
cianS) as appears by Julius Solims. But this burning of Women
upon the death of their Hufbands, is at their own choice to do
it or not, and indeed, few pradife it; but (he who doth it, ac
quires in the Nation a glorious name of Honour and Holineis.
Tis moftufual among great perfons, who prize Reputation at
a higher rate then others do 5 and in the death of Perfonages of
great quality, to whom their Wives defire to do Honour by
burning themfelves quick. I heard related at my firft coming,
that a Ragia, that is, an Indian Prince, Cone of the many which
arefubjefttothe being flain in a battel, fevenreen of
his Wives were burnt alive , together with his body ^ which in
lydia was held for great Honour and Magnificence. I have heard
fay, (fori have not feen any Women burnt alive ) that when
this isto bedone, the Wifeor Wive^who are to be burnt, in-
clofe themfelves in a pile of wood, which is lay'd hollow like
the rafters of a houfe, and the entrance rtop'd with great logs,
that they may not get out in caie they (hould repent them when
the,kindled fire begins to offend them ; Yea, divers men ftand
about the pile with ftaves in their hands to flir the fire, and to
powre liquors upon it to make it burn fafter* and that if they
(hould fee theWoman offer to comeout,or avoid the flames,they
would knock her on the head with their ftaves and kill her,
or elfe beat her back into the fire^ becaufe'twould be a great
fhame to the Woman and all her kindred, if (he fliould gc to be
burnt, and then through fear of the fire andjkfath, repent and
come out of it. I have likewife heard it faid7that fome Womei^
are burnt againft their own Will, their Relations refolving to
have it fo for Honour of the Hufband 3 and that they have been
brought to the (ire in a manner by force,and made befides theift-
i 'elves with things given them to eat and drink for this purpoie,
that they might more eafily fuifer themfelves to be ^aft into the
fire, but this tlie Wlians direftly deny, (aying, that force is
not us'd to any ^ and it may be true, at leaft in Countries where
Mahometans command ^ for there no Woman is fuffer'd to be
burnt without leave of the Covernour of the place, to whom it
belongs firft to examine, whether the Women be vyilli^^ b(C-
fides 3 and for a Llcerice 5 there is al(6 paiii a good fum of money.
Never-