Major-General Sir J. Malcolm on the Bhills. 8.5 



make room for the women, who pass the night in drinkrng and singing. 

 On these occasions, it is thought a great disgrace, if there should be any 

 deficiency of arrack. 



On the Saturday morning, the bridegroom, if he can afford it, is dressed 

 in a red turban, of the vahie of two or three rupees ; a jacket of white 

 cloth, of the value of one or two rupees ; and a pair of short white trowsers, 

 of the value of eight or ten annas.* When dressed, he is conducted by 

 his parents and relations, accompanied by vocal music, to the mandha 

 of the bride, whose parents meet the bridegroom's party about half-way, 

 and conduct them to the mandha. As this, however, is never made 

 large enough to contain all the company, separate places are assigned to 

 them, where they pass the day in eating and drinking. At night, they all 

 assemble, and seat themselves, in distinct groupes, around the mandha : the 

 bridegroom's party being on one side, and that of the bride on another ; 

 leaving a space in the middle, where the bridegroom and bride are after- 

 wards seated, opposite, but nigh to each other. A piece of painted paste- 

 board, with tassels appended to it (of the value of about four rupees), is 

 then tied on each side of their foreheads, by their respective female rela- 

 tions, the nearest of whom unite the hands of the young couple, which 

 completes the ceremony. The whole of the company pass the night in 

 singing and drinking, as usual ; and the next morning, the bridegroom con- 

 ducts to his house his bride, who is then separated from her own family. 



Inferior Marriages, called Natra. 

 When a man wishes to contract a marriage with a widow, without incur- 

 ring trouble and expense, he sends some of his friends to urge his suit with 

 the woman, or with her parents, or relations. If his proposals are accepted, 

 the suitor is desired to bring to the house of his intended bride, such presents 

 as he can afford ; which are, usually, a petticoat of coarse chintz, a cloth, 

 a sort of bodice, a necklace of beads, two pots of arrack, sixteen sers t of 

 roasted pease, and two sers of gur, or raw sugar. The match is then con- 

 sidered settled. The visit must be made on a Saturday night. The man 

 takes with him friends, and requisites to form an entertainment, of which 

 the woman's friends, and his own, partake. The woman dresses herself in 

 the clothes brought to her, and she and her new spouse, after the departure 



• Anna, one-sixtccnth of a rupee. f A Scr is nearly two pounds. 



