Col. Macxrnziz on Hindu and Mahommedan Marriage Ceremonies. 171 
that object he will obtain his reward in the like manner as if he had per- 
formed a religious sacrifice. If from poverty, or any other unavoidable 
cause, he should be prevented from marrying his daughter sooner, he should 
not on any account postpone it after she arrives at the age of ten years, or 
else shame and disgrace will fall upon him. When a man is desirous of 
marrying his daughter, he first ascertains an auspicious day, on which he 
relates his intentions to his Brahmin and his barber, and giving them money 
and betel-leayes he deputes them in search of a youth, who must be three 
or four years older than his daughter, of a respectable family, and of the 
same caste with his own. He advises them to consult some learned astro- 
loger as to the favourable marks, signs, and nativity of the youth, and to 
point out if possible a suitable husband for his daughter. When they shall 
have ascertained a proper person, and communicated to him the result of 
their search, he sends them with a letter to the youth’s father, containing 
proposals for a marriage between their children; he instructs them to ask 
for a genealogical table of his and his wife’s family, that he may ascertain 
whether they are of a proper rank and condition in life, or in anywise 
related to him, at the same time he sends a similar table of his own family. 
If the parties agree, these tables are laid before their respective relations, 
and if approved by them they express their satisfaction. They then make 
up balls composed of turmerick and orange juice, which they dry and 
scrape, and rub the dust over the tables; they return them in this state, 
as a mark of their approbation that the proposals are accepted, and that 
no relationship subsists to prevent the marriage. 
On a lucky day the Brahmin and barber are again sent to the boy’s father 
to receive from him the Shigin, or first portion of the marriage settle- 
ment, the amount of which has previously been determined; this portion 
must be one-tenth of the whole amount. Soon after the Shigtin shall have 
been. received, the girl’s father, on an auspicious day previously ascertained, 
again deputes his Brahmin and barber to the boy’s father, with the Tiilak, 
or nuptial mark, to be put on the bridegroom’s forehead on the day of mar- 
riage, with a sum of money, which must not be less than ten times the 
amount of the Shigén, together with sundry kinds of vessels, clothes ac- 
cording to custom, a hookah, white sandal-wood, betel-leaves, wreaths of 
flowers, and gold and silver ornaments, agreeable to his means. The father 
of the boy on that day commences the marriage ceremonies, and invites his 
relations to see the Tillak; they examine the presents sent with the Tilak, 
Z2 
