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infants. The mother herself is commonly the executioner of her own offspring. Women of rank may have their slaves and attendants who perform this office, but the far greater number execute it with their own hands.
A Rajpoot, for some unassigned reasons spared his female child, which grew up in the father’s house to the age in which the girls in India are married. The sight of a girl, however, in the house of a Rajpoot was so novel, and so contrary to the customs of the tribe, that no parent sought her in marriage for his son. The father, suffering under the frowns of his own tribe, and trembling for the chastity of his daughter and the honour of his family, was driven into a state of phrenzy, and in this state, taking his daughter aside, he actually put an end to her existence.
Lieut. Colonel Alexander Walker had first the honour of appearing before this people as the advocate of humanity. He addressed them in his official character, and, as ambassador from the British nation, he entreated them to suffer their daughters to live. It seems they had means of appreciating the private character of this officer, and they respected his virtues ; but in regard to this moral negotiation, they peremptorily refused even to listen to it.
What more, it would be said, can be done with prudence? Enthusiasm alone would
