154 Madras Literary Society. [Manrcn, 
plate II. Nos. 25, 26, 27, 28, &c.) : there are others of a pure Hindee character ; but 
as Lieut. Burnes will soon be in Calcutta with the remainder of the coins procured 
by him, any further notice may better be deferred until his arrival. 
Literary. 
A paper was read on the marriage rites and usages of the Jats of Bharat- 
pur, by T.®. Lushington, Esq. 
The marriage of Balwant Sinh, the present Raja of Bharatpur, to the daughter of 
the Bechore Raja, in May 1832, afforded the author an excellent opportunity of 
witnessing the numerous ceremonies punctiliously observed in its solemnization at 
Deeg. Mr. Lushington describes the betrothal—the ¢ika or marriage present—the 
settlement of a fortunate day by the pardits, and the consequent transmission of 
the lagan patrt, orbride’s horoscope, to the bridegroom, which is considered to close 
the marriage. Connubial feasts and concerts are then given in the parents’ houses. 
The youth is anointed with jasmine oil, and makes pooja and offerings to the fa- 
mily potter's wheel, to Sitla the goddess of the small-pox, and to the gohra or 
place in which the filth of the palace is deposited: this is said to typify the increase 
of progeny, as the heap of rubbish continually augments! The ceremony of the dhat 
succeeds, in which vice and other presents, of horses, elephants, &c. are given to 
the parohits, the Rani and Raja and their attendants, by the brothers and other 
male relations. Deputations from foreign courts succeed. The Bardt or marriage 
procession starts from the temple of the bridegroom’s mahant or head priest (he had 
not a family géri%), and is attended with much splendour. Upon its arrival at the 
bride’s house the ceremonies of tdran and hom take place. The former consists in 
striking the image of a bird with a sheathed sword ;—the latter, the burnt-offering 
and adoration of water, are described as the most interesting parts of the perform- 
ance—they are followed by the Kanyaddn or giving away of the bride—the 
Pradakshana, the Aghuna, and the marriage hymns. 
The bride is then carried home, when feasting and curious games, resembling 
‘* snapdragon and bran-cake,”” amuse the young couple. 
After three days’ residence with her lord, the bride returns to her parents for three 
or five years, when she is brought away with the ceremony of gona or gaman—but 
this may be dispensed with by the performance of phir-pattah, or changing the 
stools of the bride and bridegroom when the hom is celebrated. 
Vi.—Maopras Litrrerary Society. 
General Meeting held at the College on Saturday, 26th January, 1833. 
The Hom’ble Sir R. Palmer, President, in the Chair. 
The Secretary (J. C. Morris, Esq.), laid before the Meeting a statement 
of the funds of the Society in both its branches. 
Captain Chase, Lieut.-Col. Coombs, A. Robertson, Esq. and Capt. Row- 
landson, were elected the Committee of management. 
W. Hudleston, Esq. and Capt. Rowlandson, were added to the Committee 
of papers, 
Donations of various books from individuals and societies,—of a Baudha 
image and a gold coin, were announced. 
