296 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [Sept., 1914. 



man. The desire for offspring, particularly sons, had its root 

 in the religious belief, and is the outcome of the idea that the 

 spirit of the dead would be made happy by homage received at 

 the hands of the male descendants. 1 



It must be noted that the number of celibates in all Hindu 

 castes is very small ; and this is a marked contrast to the in- 

 creasing number of them, in European and other countries, 

 where the growing difficulties of supporting a family is keenly 

 felt. The same difficulties, though existing in the former case, 

 is not here properly understood. It has been observed that 

 the frequency of marriages is a very sensible barometer of the 

 hope which the mass of people have for the future This state- 

 ment is true among the very low castes, in which more wed- 

 dings take place after a good harvest, and very few in the 

 absence of it. In the higher castes marriages are compulsory 

 before girls come of age. 



The Liberty of Choice.— In all the castes of the State from 

 the Nambuthiri Brahmans down to the Pulayans, the liberty of 

 choice in matrimonial alliance is seldom allowed to the con- 

 tracting parties. As early marriage is the rule, the parents of 

 the bride and bridegroom along with the maternal uncle and 

 their nearest relatives make all the necessary arrangements 

 preliminary to the wedding. This custom prevails in all 

 Hindu castes without exception. Even when the parties are 

 of age, the same functions are exercised by the parents. This 

 is probably on account of the exclusive right and control which 

 the father has over his children. 2 Among the Hebrews, accord- 

 ing to the Talmudic law, a marriage to be valid must be con- 

 tracted with the voluntary consent of both the parties con- 

 cerned. 8 According to all the Mabomedan schools, a son is free 

 to enter into conjugal union without the consent of his father, 

 after his fifteenth year. The Hanafis and Shiahs grant the 

 same privilege to a daughter, whereas according to other 

 schools, a woman is made free from paternal control only 

 through marriage. A Mahomedan father has a right to get his 

 sons and daughters married alike during their minority, but the 

 law takes care that this right shall never be exercised to the 

 prejudice of the infant. Any act of the father prejudicial to 

 the rights of the minor is considered illegal, and entitles the 

 judge to prevent the completion of such an act or, if com- 

 pleted, to annul it.* 



Prohibition of Marriage between Kindred.— As a rule, the 

 selection of persons for marriage is guided mainly by two rules : 

 nrst, that they must be outside the family; secondly, that 



9 Su ™- Tnbe3 and Castes, vol. ii, pages 407-408. 



i i 4 Tu'? ry of Huraa n Marriage, ch. x, pages 225-231. 



Note Page 235 ' Maine ' ' Early Law and Cu3tom '' P*S e 2 " U ' 



