Vestals Plunge to Death.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3604, 3 September 1890, Page 2

Vestals Plunge to Death.

Fait Oolib&tos Pttforrel to Sift Kafiier tbea Do The Siiih Pao of April 26 aaya" There is a prevailing custom' in the district called in Canton - province, among female sooiety to form different kinds of sißfejhoods, y such' as "All Pure" "NeYer-to-be-Married 1 !, &c, Each sisterhood ' consists of about ten young maidens who swear .vows to' heaven never to get married, as tliey regard marriages ' as 'something horrid, believing their, married lives would be ; miserable !; an?-' an? - , holy; ahd their parents fail 'to prevail upon' them v to'.yield, ;' ; A',sad ; case |ast ha|peqed j r ; ! v ; maidens enaid'their WOfld. by drawing-iq the River, because one o'PHhem was ; forced by lier parents to b'& igarri&i • She was engaged - in'her; before she joined this sistsrhool ' ' . When her parents hqd' inst all the necessary arrangements for her marriage she reporto3 jhfl.a&ir'to' ' : the other members of whoat once. agreed Milfor her cause if she remained ctinslantto her sworn vows to bo single and virtuous. Should she violate:the laws of tho , " aieterbooi and yield fa tor parents |er life was to bo wade most unpleasant by.the other members,l'M ana she would be taunted I 'as a * Worthless; being,.' She/consulted with themU as to the' .wiaoib of escaping this mamagvjtfdthty&ll agreed to die: with 'she .couldv • ~. tUopighl ot'the ■ V As ilfertj pwViiian|; friih|ff when mpyemeijfs, i| Maln)oß|i W ber life by swallowing a gold . ring'; : • ' but aiiy serious consequence! that ' ' might have teeultftd ! h

. «JT" I ! 11l 'I. .;.; JI I. . 'in "T :■• ■ by tho ndministration' of a powerful emetic. By bribing *the femaje eervants sho was taken 0110 night to her sisters under the cove; 6( dark- . ness. • ;Tlie sisters at 0110 a joined with her. to terminate.their lives by ■ jumping into the Dragon' River, with its swift outrents,'■which rapidly carried them oft. This kind of tragedy iB uncommon in this part of tho land.