301 



the bridegroom's house; those of the whole nuptial solemnity 

 may be thus recapitulated. The bridegroom goes in procession 

 to the house where the bride's father resides, and is there welcomed 

 as a guest. The bride is given to him by her father, in the form 

 usual at every solemn donation, and their hands are bound toge- 

 ther with cusa grass; he clothes the bride with an upper and 

 lower oarment, and the skirts of her mantle and his are tied tos;e- 

 ther. The bridegroom makes oblations to fire, and the bride drops 

 rice on it as an oblation. The bridegroom solemnly takes her 

 hand in marriage. She treads on a stone and mullar. They walk 

 round the fire: the bride steps seven times, conducted by the 

 bridegroom, and he then dismisses the spectators, the marriage 

 being now complete and irrevocable. Jn the evening of the same 

 day the bride sits down on a bull's hide, and the bridegroom 

 points out to her the polar star, as an emblem of stability. They 

 then partake of a meal. The bridegroom remains three days at 

 the house of the bride's father. On the fourth day he conducts 

 her to his own house in solemn procession. She is there wel- 

 comed by his kindred ; and the solemnity ends with oblations 

 to fire. 



In my letter, appropriated to the Hindoos, I mentioned the 

 custom of marrying their children in a state of infancy. It is 

 as much practised in Guzerat, as in other parts of Ilindos.tan: 

 although great part of the preceding ceremonies arc intended for 

 persons more advanced in life. On this part of the subject Mr. 

 Colebrook remarks, that "among the Hindoos a girl is married 

 before the age of puberty; the law even censures the delay of the 

 marriage beyond the tenth year. For this reason, and because 



