British officer: “This Custom tho' shocking to humanity we still allow in consequence of the revenue it brings in, which is of importance. I have also private reasons for not suppressing the burning system immediately.”
British bishop: “Why my Lord, with a view to [O]economy under existing circumstances it might be imprudent to press the measure at present. Besides I think I feel also the private motives which actuates your Lordship.”

• What is sati?
– Hindu practice of a widow throwing herself on her husband’s funeral pyre
• What was the purpose of this print?
– to support a Christian missionary campaign to get sati abolished
– missionaries believed women were forced to commit sati by relatives who wanted to inherit the man’s property
– mission accomplished: British made sati illegal in 1829
• Considerations:
– possible exaggeration … lots of opposition to attempts to spread
Christianity in India
– sati already in decline before 1829 abolition b/c many Hindus did not agree with it
– rare ex. of British rule interfering with local religious beliefs … more respect after Sepoy Rebellion