280 On the Marriage Rites and Usages [Junz, 
threads (this colour being esteemed fortunate) ; that déd* grass, an 
emblem of increase, is put on it; and that gold coins, betelnut, rupees, 
haldi or yellow curry-powder, and yellow rice are placed within the 
folds of the paper. 
The lagan-patri is intrusted to the keeping of the Rané mother 
until the day of her death, whilst the kAi/at is sent out by her for 
the inspection of the Sirdars assembled. When the Parohit or 
his followers, who escorted the Jagan, have returned to their tents, 
which are pitched outside the city, it being contrary to etiquette 
that the bride’s party should partake in any way of the bride- 
groom’s hospitality, Gur (unrefined sugar) is distributed to the po- 
pulace. On the third day after this, the Parohit returns with pre- 
sents to the bride. 
From the receipt of the Jagan, the marriage is considered to begin. 
Marriage songs (Barna and Barni) are sung in the houses of the 
bride and bridegroom, and presents are distributed to the women 
who sing; these are for the most part females of the same stock (1 Got) 
as the bridegroom. The subjects selected by them, and the language 
in which they are illustrated, are alike coarse and ludicrous, resem- 
bling perhaps the “‘sales et convicia” sung by the Roman boys at 
marriages, or the rude jokes and indecencies which pervade the songs 
of our older poets. 
The Raja’s mother sits in the midst of the singers, listening to the 
songs, and frequently joins in the chorus herself. The singers are 
rewarded for their labours, and their songs are always in proportion 
to the reward. There is a common saying, taken from this cir.. 
cumstance, which has passed into a proverb, “ Jysa tera kourz wysa 
meré gtt,” or the goodness of our song will depend upon the num- 
ber of rupees bestowed on us. 
The marriage songs having been instituted, and the body of the 
bridegroom anointed with jasmine oil, which is applied with d&b* 
* For an account of the sacred durva or déb grass, see Asiatic Researches, vol. 
iv. Observations on select Indian Plants, by Sir W. Jones. The following text 
is there quoted: “‘ May Durva, which rose from the waters of life, which has a 
hundred roots and a hundred stems, efface a hundred of my sins and prolong my 
existence on earth for a hundred years.”” Mr. Henry CoLeBRooKE quotes another 
text in praise of Durva, in his learned Essays, and Colonel Toppt mentions that the 
Rajputs are fond of comparing themselves to this valuable grass, which thrives in 
almost every soil, and propagates itself for ages and ages. The comparison is not 
confined to Rajputs alone, it is current throughout upper India. 
+I quote from memory, not having Colonel Topp’s valuable work by me, the Is¢ vo- 
dume of which 1 perused (with less attention than it deserved), two years ago, in Cal- 
eutta, the 2nd volume I have not yet seen. 
