THEIE PECULIAR CUSTOMS. 77 



2. TliG Saliocars, merchants, &c. 



The first have adopted the Moosulmaun 

 costume J wear the Sindh cap, the beard long, 

 the sootan, or drawers, and only shave the 

 crown of the head. They do not, however, 

 trhn the moustaches according to the Sunnat ; 

 they often put on the sectarian mark, and wear 

 the ppwij or shirt, open on the left side, whilst 

 the ]\Iahomedans wear it so on the right. They 

 have not adopted cii'cumcision, and neither eat 

 nor intermarry with Moslems. They eat the 

 same food as the Sarsudh Brahmuns, and buy 

 flesh from Mahomedans, as it is unlawful for 

 them to take life. Their marriages generally 

 cost from 500 to GOO rupees. They seldom 

 take a second wife unless the first prove barren. 

 They do not object to marry a widow. In the 

 Khudabadi caste of Lohano, if a girl becomes 

 a widow at an early age, her deceased lius- 

 band's brother generally marries her. Tlie 

 preliminary ceremonies are the Mungno, or be- 

 trothal, which is conducted by tlie intervention 

 of a Sarsudh and aZajeh, or musician, and their 

 wives. Tlie males enter into a treaty with 

 the bride's father, the females arrange matters 

 with the women. If all goes on smoothly, they 



