A MARRIAGE AT KHYRPOOR. 159 



are probably the more respectable, as they 

 certainly are the more wealthy, portion of 

 the community at his capital, where some of 

 the practices at marriages, betrothals, and 

 the like, are different from any that I ever 

 saw in India. On one occasion we were 

 awakened about midnight by a marriage 

 procession entering the city. The bride- 

 groom was the son of one of the principal 

 goldsmiths of Khyrpoor, but his bride was 

 fvom a town at some distance. These pro- 

 cessions are generally attended by a number 

 of torch-bearers ; but this one was different 

 from any I had ever seen, as, on crossing 

 the ]\leerwah to enter the city, it was met 

 by about fifty women, with small lamps, 

 which they simultaneously lighted, and these 

 in the darkness appeared through the trees 

 like so many fireflies starting into life. 

 The scene appeared illustrative of that de- 

 scribed in the 25th chapter of St Matthew, 

 except that the Khyrpoor virgins, being all 

 wise ones, were well provided with oil ! 

 The sight was very picturesque and pleas- 

 ing, from the associations it called to mind. 

 On another occasion I was awakened by 



