Major-General Sir J. Malcolm on the BhtUs. 8.'} 



On the twelfth day, another ceremony takes place. On this day, the 

 mother of the infant, with her female relations, proceeds to a river, stream, 

 pool, or well, where rites are performed to the water-god, or spirit {JaUi- 

 d^va, as he is called). The ceremonies are as follow : In the hut, where the 

 woman has lain in, a dish called khichn'\% prepared, made with Jowara,* or 

 bdjra,\ boiled with mmig-ddlt Some of the khichri is then put upon a 

 brass dish, on which are also placed twelve lighted lamps, to correspond 

 with the number of days, since the birth of the child. These lamps are 

 made of wheat-flour, kneaded into paste; and of the same paste twelve small 

 cakes are also made. In addition to these, red lead, ki'mlat, cocoa-nut, 

 and a mixture, made of five different kinds of grain, and of turmeric, beate)i 

 into a powder, which is dissolved in water, are placed upon the brass dish, 

 which, with its contents, forming, what is called in Nemar, the arti, is 

 carried by one of the women, the whole of whom, with the mother of the 

 child, go in procession, singing, and beating the d'hdl, and accompanied 

 by any other instrumental music that they can procure, towards the ap- 

 pointed stream, at the edge of which, when the party arrives, the mother of 

 the child arranges the lamps. The cakes are placed in a second line, pa- 

 rallel to that of the lamps, and a little of the khichri is put on each of 

 them ; after which, the mother performs worship to the water-god, in the 

 following manner. Red lead, and kunki, are thrown by her into the water, 

 and also on the twelve lamps, upon which some of the five different kinds 

 of grain, mixed with turmeric and water, is also thrown. A fire is then 

 kindled before the lamps, and oil poured in it. The party afterwards pro- 

 ceed home, where they feast upon khichri and oil ; after which they break 

 up, and this finishes the business of the twelfth day. 



Marriage Ceremonies of the Bhills. 

 The fixing of a marriage between a young couple is managed entirely 

 by their relations. When the parents desire to marry their son, they send 

 some friends to the parents of the giri, whom they wish to become their 

 son's bride. These make proposals, and present some (gur) raw sugar and 

 arrack, which (if partaken of) shows, that the proposals are accepted. 



nient, may appear t-xtraorclinary to an European, but not to any one who has been in India, and 

 wjtncssed tlie rapid recovery of Cumalus after child-birtli. 



• llolcus sorglii.ni | Holcus spicatus. 



X Mudga-dnla; Pliaseolus mungo. 



M 2 



