1893.] S. C. Das — Marriaye Customs in Sikhim. 29 



prepares the marriage-cake service, called the ama-kha-don (mother's 

 first entertainment). This consists of cooked rice, buttered barley flour, 

 a ball of butter, cakes and some fruits. In a separate vessel is kept the 

 food intended for the bride, which she is to taste first according to the 

 directions of the astrologer. 



The Tashi-kyi-Ldmd, who has constructed some fancy cakes painted 

 with coloured butter for offering to the gods and the spirits of the ten 

 quarters, now draws some mystic figures on a small table for the yang- 

 giig (invoking the goddess of luck and fortune). A priest with a sacred 

 book in his arms stands behind the door to touch the head of the bride 

 with it as she enters the room. He must not stay there after doing his 

 work. The pag-pon will beat him with a stick if he finds the priest lurk- 

 ing there. The object of touching the head of the bride with a sacred 

 book is to prevent any evil spirit that may have come with the bride 

 from entering the house. If the priest fails to touch her he is severely 

 punished. At this time a gun (generally a matchlock) is fired to frighten 

 the evil spirit so that he may run away as quickly as possible. 



Then the kun-don, headed by the pag-pon, take their respective seats. 

 The Tashi-kyi-Ldmd sits afc the top of the central row of seats. When 

 they are served with tea and chang, . the ama-kha-don is brought and 

 placed before them. The tha-pon (who on the preceding day acted the 

 part of the kun-chan or thief) now dressed like a chief comes forward to 

 address the assembly, on behalf of the mother of the bridegroom, and tells 

 them that everything has been arranged according to the custom of the 

 country, and that the ama-kha-don has been placed before them for their 

 acceptance. Then the don-ner (receiver of guests), as the representative 

 of the father of the bridegroom, presenting compliments, inquires of the 

 health of the kun-don if they have not been much fatigued on account of 

 the journey, the difficulty of passage and the want of bridges over the hill 

 torrents, &c. The pag-pon replies to his queries in polite language. 

 After some conversation and exchange of congratulations they beo-in 

 to refresh themselves with tea and chang. Dainty dishes are served to 

 them at noon, or a little after. This day is called the dong -chang at 

 the bridegroom's house. All the provisions required for the entertain- 

 ment on this day are supplied by the sister and brother-in-law of the bride- 

 groom. If they be poor the bridegroom's parents meet the expenses, 

 The tha-pon, who while performing the part of the kun-chan had suf- 

 fered .so many indignities from the hands of the bride's female friends, 

 now receives his reward. He is furnished with presents in money, rice, 

 barley flour, meat and chang. 



On the second day of entertainment, which is called chang-thunff-clienpo, 

 the relations and neighbours of the bridegroom assemble together when 



