182 Col. Macrenztz on Hindu and Mahommedan Marriage Ceremonies. 
assembled, a tailor, on the part of the bride’s father, puts the robe on the 
bridegroom, and a gardener adorns him with wreaths of flowers; after which 
they receive presents and retire. ‘The marriage agent then presents himself 
before the bridegroom, to whom he pays his respects, and explains the 
object of his mission, saying, ‘I am deputed to adjust the marriage settle- 
ment of such a one, the daughter of such a one (mentioning the name of the 
bride and her father), who is to be married to such a one, the son of such a 
one, do you know me?” If the bridegroom acknowledges that he is ac- 
quainted with him, it is not necessary for him to prove that he is the agent ; 
but if the bridegroom denies having any knowledge of him, as is usually the 
case, he must then prove his agency by the evidence of the two witnesses. 
They next proceed to fix the amount of the marriage settlement, according 
to the custom of their respective families, and which must not be less than 
forty thousand,* but as much more as possible. If the fathers of the bride 
and bridegroom agree to the amount thus fixed, the marriage settlement is 
drawn up in legal form, signed and sealed by the bridegroom, and witnessed 
by all present; then the Cawzé, or if he is not present some other learned 
man, reads the prayers. If they are of the tribe of the Shiyas he reads the 
Shiya, if Sunnies the Kitbeh ; after which paun and sweetmeats are dis- 
tributed. 
As soon as the marriage ceremony is concluded, the bridegroom, attended 
by his procession, the illuminations, fireworks, &c., goes to the outer door 
of the female apartments; he there alights, and proceeds alone to the door, 
where he is met by a female servant, who presents to him a cup of sherbet 
and some paun. He drinks the sherbet, and having delivered such presents 
as he has brought, he returns to the canopy. The father of the bride then 
has an entertainment served to his guests, who continue under the canopy 
during the remainder of the night. Early in the morning the servants of 
the bride’s family bring cups of milk, in which sugar has been mixed, on 
trays, and present them to the bridegroom, who tastes a little of the milk, 
and divides it among his brothers and the other children present; the bride’s 
father has fruits and sweetmeats served to his guests. The bridegroom is 
now summoned to the bride’s apartment, into which he enters alone; from 
* Of the current coin of the country. The natives of India generally fix on an immense sum 
to prevent a divorce; because, if a man divorces his wife, he must pay to her the full amount of 
her marriage settlement. 
