1833. | of the Sits of Bharatpur. | 281 
grass to his feet, arms, and shoulders, the worship of the potter’s wheel 
(Chakr-puja) is then performed by the Majz and female relatives of 
the Raja. This consists in visiting the shop of the family potter, and in 
offering up sweetmeats, betelnuts, and rupees on his wheel. The prais- 
es of this instrument and the article produced by it are chaunted by 
the women, and the ceremony concludes by a demand on the part of 
the potter* for a present; upon which there ensues a mock dispute 
between him, the Rdnés, and the women, the potter demanding ex- 
actly twice the sum to which he is entitled, and the females as stoutly 
refusing to comply with his demand. The dispute is generally ended 
by a compromise between the belligerent parties, and the female dis- 
putants return to the mehal. 
Two days prior to the marriage, the women of the mehal repair to 
a tank within the interior of the palace, and having with their hands 
dug up the wet mud on its banks, bring it on their heads into the inner 
apartments, where they proceed to construct a miniature store-house 
or granary for the bridegroom. The meaning of which is obviously 
this, that it becomes the bridegroom to lay up ample store of provi- 
sions for his future wife and family, whilst it is no less incumbent on 
them (his relatives) to assist him in so doing, 
After the worship of the potter’s wheel the Raja and the whole of 
his Sirdars repair in state to the shrine of Sztld, the goddess of 
the small-pox. Propitiatory prayers and gifts are offered up to this 
dreaded personage, and various articles of food and incense placed be- 
fore her. So general, I may add, is the worship of this goddessf 
throughout these parts, that every village has an altar consecrated to 
her, which consists generally of a mere heap of stones loosely piled up, 
with one slab placed perpendicularly, on which a rude image of the 
goddess is engraved. 
The appearance of this goddess is said to be similar to that of an 
old and wrinkled woman, and, for this reason, the Hindus consider it 
* Two reasons are assigned for the worship of the wheel ; Ist, that it is the wea- 
pon of VisHnvu. 2ndly, Its great utility to the married couple, as furnishing them 
with utensils of every description. 
+ She is said to ride on a donkey and to have a potter as a groom, and for this 
reason potters are entitled to the food offered up-at her shrine, should it be Sukri, 
or food cooked in a chulha, but if Nikri or sweetmeats (which by some conveni- 
ent textt are held to be lawful to all Hindus, though cooked by strangers), the 
Brahmans take good care to secure them, 
+ Provided they are inhabitants of the Mudh Des, or country between the Hima- 
laya and Vindhya ranges. 
