64 ON THE INHABITANTS OF THE 



he, as soon as he can procure money for the ex* 

 pence of the nuptials, must provide a turban for the 

 lady's father, with one rupee ; also a rupee and a 

 piece of cloth ior her mother ; and a rupee and a 

 piece of cloth for several of the nearest relations-. 

 These and the materials for the marriage-feast being 

 provided, a day is fixed, on which the bridegroom, 

 with his relations, proceed to the bride's ' father's 

 house, where they are seated on cots and mats, and 

 after a repast, the bride's father taking his daugh- 

 ter's hand, and giving it to the bridegroom, be pub- 

 licly admonishes him to use her well and kindly, and 

 not to murder her; threatening to retaliate; but 

 if she should die a natural death, or by means of the 

 devil, it cannot be helped. On the conclusion of this 

 exhortation, the bridegroom, with the little finger of 

 his right hand, marks the bride's forehead with red 

 paint, and the same little finger being linked with 

 the little finger of the bride's right hand, he leads her 

 out of the house to his own. At the expiration of five 

 days, the bridegroom, with the bride, returns to her 

 father's, well stocked with provisions for feasting, and, 

 having passed two or three days with their parents, 

 they go home, and the ceremony concludes. 



A man dying and leaving widows, his younger 

 brothers, or younger cousins of the first and second 

 degrees, or nephews, may receive the widows as 

 wives. If the parties agree on these occasions, the 

 children go with their mother : if the widow prefers 

 returning to her relations, the children under ten 

 years of age go with b r, and she is entitled to a 



rupee 



