DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.641#0131
124 THE HINDOO MYTHOLOGY.
and neighbouring districts, to a great extent, a cast of Sikhs,
and the raju-pootiis, as well as many of the bramhuns and
other casts, murder their female children as soon as born.
I have made particular enquiry into the extent of these
murders; but as the crime is perpetrated in secret, have not
been able to procure very exact information. A gentleman,
whose information on Indian customs is very correct,
informs me, that this practice was, if it is not at present,
universal among all the raju-poots, who, he supposes, de-
stroy all their daughters: he expresses his fears, that,
notwithstanding their promises to the Government of
Bombay, made in consequence of the very benevolent exer-
tions of Mr. Duncan, the practice is almost generally con-
tinued. He adds, the custom prevails in the Punjab, in
Malwa, Joud-pooru, Jesselmere, Guzerat, Kutch, and per-
haps Sind, if not in other provinces.
A friend at Ludhana, in a letter writen in the year 1812,
says, 'The horrible custom of murdering female infants-is
very common among the raju-pootiis. One of these fellows
had been induced, by the tears of his wife, to spare the
life of a daughter born to him. The girl grew up, and had
arrived at the age of thirteen; but, unfortunately for her,
had not been demanded in marriage by any one. The
raju-pootii began to apprehend the danger of her bringing
a disgrace upon the family, and resolved to prevent it by
putting the girl to death. Shortly after forming this atro-
cious design, he either overheard, or pretended to have
overheard, some of his neighbours speak of his daughter in
a way that tended to increase his fears; when, becoming out-
rageous, he rushed upon the poor girl, and cut her head off.
The native magistrate confined him for a year, and seized
all his property. But this was only because the girl was
marriageable; infants are murdered with perfect impunity.'
and neighbouring districts, to a great extent, a cast of Sikhs,
and the raju-pootiis, as well as many of the bramhuns and
other casts, murder their female children as soon as born.
I have made particular enquiry into the extent of these
murders; but as the crime is perpetrated in secret, have not
been able to procure very exact information. A gentleman,
whose information on Indian customs is very correct,
informs me, that this practice was, if it is not at present,
universal among all the raju-poots, who, he supposes, de-
stroy all their daughters: he expresses his fears, that,
notwithstanding their promises to the Government of
Bombay, made in consequence of the very benevolent exer-
tions of Mr. Duncan, the practice is almost generally con-
tinued. He adds, the custom prevails in the Punjab, in
Malwa, Joud-pooru, Jesselmere, Guzerat, Kutch, and per-
haps Sind, if not in other provinces.
A friend at Ludhana, in a letter writen in the year 1812,
says, 'The horrible custom of murdering female infants-is
very common among the raju-pootiis. One of these fellows
had been induced, by the tears of his wife, to spare the
life of a daughter born to him. The girl grew up, and had
arrived at the age of thirteen; but, unfortunately for her,
had not been demanded in marriage by any one. The
raju-pootii began to apprehend the danger of her bringing
a disgrace upon the family, and resolved to prevent it by
putting the girl to death. Shortly after forming this atro-
cious design, he either overheard, or pretended to have
overheard, some of his neighbours speak of his daughter in
a way that tended to increase his fears; when, becoming out-
rageous, he rushed upon the poor girl, and cut her head off.
The native magistrate confined him for a year, and seized
all his property. But this was only because the girl was
marriageable; infants are murdered with perfect impunity.'