1833.] of the Jats of Bharatpur. 287 
. The procession moves at a slow and measured pace: immediately in 
front of the bridegroom’s elephant are stationed a number of water- 
carriers, bearing skins of water, which they occasionally pour on the 
ground before him; not with the intention of laying the dust, for that 
would be considered absurd, but to convey to all beholders the notion 
that the presence of the bridegroom is as grateful to his mistress and 
all created things as water is to the parched-up earth. 
When the barat has arrived to within a mile or two of the town 
at which the wedding is to take place, it is met by the nearest male 
relative of the young lady, who comes out thus far to honour the bride- 
groom, and to conduct him to his tents. This is called the Peshwat 
or Jstakbal, and is considered an -important part of native etiquette. 
It obtains I believe throughout Asia, certainly in all Muhammedan 
countries. 
The whole of the bridegroom’s Sipahis, attendants, and sirdars, 
constituting a body of about 8000 men, are dressed in marriage gar- 
ments, as also those of the bride. In fact, no one would be allowed to 
form part of the procession; or to be present at the marriage feast who 
was not so attired. This piece of etiquette throws light on a passage in 
Scripture, Matthew xxii. ‘‘ And when the king came in to see the 
guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding-garment, and 
he said unto him, Friend, how comest thou hither, not having a wed- 
ding-garment? and he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, 
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away and cast him into outer 
darkness.” A similar violation of established rule and etiquette would 
meet with a similar punishment, I believe, in any native state. 
I shall now describe as shortly as possible the ceremonies which are 
performed after the arrival of the bridegroom, In the first place, a 
hookah, bhang, tobacco, cardamums, and sherbet are sent to him by 
the ‘‘ Samdhi’’ or father. of the girl, and the ‘‘ Samdhi’’ himself waits 
on him. He is received. with much. respect by the Sirdars of the 
court, but the bridegroom neither rises from his seat nor returns. his 
salutation. The natives consider the bridegroom to be a sort of Di- 
vinity* for the two or three days during which the ceremonies last, and 
for this reason he neither returns his father-in-law’s greeting nor that 
of any one else. When the two or three days are over, he relapses 
to his former ‘‘ earthly’ state. - 
* However low the caste and station of the bridegroom, he is called a ‘‘ arhai 
voz ka Badshah,’’ or a “‘ King for two and half days,’’ i. e. during the performance 
of the ceremonies, which last two or three days, according to the resources of the 
bride’s father, who is expected to feast the cavalcade for at least two and gene- 
rally three days, ; 
