HILLS NEAR RA'jAMAHALL. 59 



caps of wood are fitted on the bamboos, and necks 

 made in them : on one of these, four score and an 

 half of barks are bound with twine dipped in oil ; on 

 the second, three score are bound, and on the third, 

 one score and a half; the heads of these three are 

 ornamented with a profusion of peacock's tail fea- 

 thers, thus prepared ; they are called Chumdah 

 Gosaih, and carried to the suppliant's house, where 

 for the workmen a hog is dressed with grain, that 

 they may be feasted for their trouble : a hog, two 

 pots of spirits, grain, and salt, are presented to every 

 chief, for himself and vassals, who honours the sup- 

 pliant with his company; as much is also given to 

 his own relations, and a like quantity to the relations 

 of his wives, and meat and drink is distributed to all 

 assembled. The women, who dress these provisions, 

 exclusive of their daily hire, have a hog given to them, 

 that they may eat together, as they are not allowed to 

 feast with the men. 



The Chumdah-b&mboos having been brought about 

 evening, and placed against the suppliant's house, he 

 and the Demauno rub the ends on the ground with oil, 

 and mark them with red paint ; when the latter, with 

 a hen's egg and a handful of rice, prays, observing 

 the usual ceremony, that Chumdah Gosaih maybe 

 propitious to the suppliant, who follows his exam- 

 ple, and also makes an offering of a cut hog, which 

 he sacrifices so that the blood may fall on the bam- 

 boos ; the largest of which, or one with the greatest 

 number of barks pendant to it, he presents to one of 

 his: relations ; the second in size to one of his wives 



relations; 



