24 PARSEE WEDDING. 



presents, which continued to arrive on trays. They 

 consisted much of* the same kind of things given at 

 home on similar occasions, more however of a useful 

 than merely ornamental kind, from a mattress down to 

 a pair of patent leather shoes, varied by a large display 

 of flowers, fruit, and confectionery. A band of music 

 generally headed each fresh arrival of gifts, which 

 Madame la onere received at the entrance, uttering 

 some appropriate sentence, whilst sprinkling rose water 

 and throwing rice over them. All this time flowers, 

 condiments, and pawn — the latter consisting of bits of 

 areca nut mixed with a little quicklime and enclosed 

 in a leaf of the betel pepper (Chavica hetel) ingeni- 

 ously tied together, which, when chewed, stains the 

 lips and saliva a deep red colour, — were handed round 

 amongst the company inside the house as well as in 

 the street, whilst some elegant silver flasks in filigree, 

 containing rose water, were passing from hand to hand, 

 or more correctly from nose to nose, up and down the 

 row. All the company being now assembled, they 

 started in procession for the bride's house, headed by 

 the priests in long white robes ; first followed the men, 

 and then the women and children. Here carpets were 

 spread, and chairs placed in the centre for bride and 

 bridegroom to sit face to face, the women gathering 

 around them muttering all the time. During the early 



