84 Major-General Sir J. Malcolm on the Bhills. 



After this, the parents of the intended bridegroom, taking with them five or 

 aix sers of sugar {gur), or as many pots of arrack, a new petticoat, a cloth, a 

 rupee, and a cocoa-nut, proceed on a lucky day,* accompanied by the in- 

 tended bridegroom himself, and all the male and female members of the 

 family, to the house of the bride, where, in expectation of their coming, 

 an entertainment has been prepared, according to the circumstances of the 

 parties. If rich, the food consists of boiled rice, dal,\ and ghi ;% and if poor, 

 of bread made ofj'oa'a'rc/ flour, ddl, and oil of ///(sesamum). The mother of 

 the girl, then carries to her daughter the presents brought for her ; and at- 

 tiring her in the petticoat and clotli, puts some kunkii on her forehead. 

 The whole party then assemble in the girl's apartment, where they partake 

 of the entertainments prepared for them; and after quaffing large potations 

 of the arrack, return to their respective dwellings. The young couple are, 

 from that day, considered as regularly betrothed. The celebration of the 

 marriage is afterwards fixed, according to circumstances, and opportunity. 

 The commencement of these ceremonies always takes place on Sunday, 

 previous to which the bridegroom and bride have, for several days, their 

 bodies well rubbed with oil,§ and perform ablutions with warm water. 

 During the whole of this week, till next Sunday, the bridegroom and bride, 

 with their respective relations, male and female, in two distinct parties, go 

 every night to pay visits to their neighbours. After these visits, one of tiie 

 lemales of both parties, carries a brass plate, in which are a lighted lamp, 

 some kunhu, and grain. The master of each house, or hut, gives to the 

 bridegroom or bride, as they respectively happen to come, presents of a 

 cocoa-nut, or money amounting to a few pice (a copper coin), and taking 

 from the brass dish some kunkii, put it on their foreheads. On the last day 

 (Saturday), a.mandha (or booth) is erected at the houses of both the bride- 

 groom and bride, by their parents. The mandha of the bridegroom must 

 be erected on nine posts ; and that of the bride upon twelve. In each of 

 these mandhas, the bridegroom and bride's male relations bathe in warm 

 water, and partake of victuals and arrack. At night the men retire, and 



* The Bhat, or minstrel, is always acquainted with the lucky and unlucky days ; but these 

 seldom possess the almanacks, used by the Hindu pritsts of villages, in which they are all in- 

 serted. 



•|- A species of Indian vetch. 



\ Clarified butter. 



^ This word is, in the original, chechra, which signifies a particular oil. 



