180 The ‘ Kols” of Chota-Nagpore. 
her path of an imaginary foe, indicates that he is prepared to perform 
his duty as her guide and protector through life. 
In the Oraon marriages, many of these symbolical ceremonies are 
omitted, and the important one of exchanging the “ szndoor” is 
differently performed. The bridegroom stands behind his bride with 
his toes on her heels, and stretcheg,over her head to touch her forehead 
with the powder. She touches his forehead by reaching back over his 
shoulder. The cold bath completes the ceremony, they go to their own 
apartment to change their clothes, and do not emerge till morning. 
The price paid for a girl in cows is called “‘ Sukmur” by the 
Kheriah tribe. They have no word for marriage in their own 
language, and the only ceremony used appears to be little more than 
a sort of public recognition of the cohabitation. They have learned 
to call this “ beha,” but they admitted to me that this public recogni- 
tion was often dispensed with. 
It takes place in this wise. After the settlement of the usual prelimi- 
naries, the bride is brought to the village of her intended bridegroom 
by her own people and their friends, and they halt and bivouac in the 
village grove. The bridegroom and his friends join them in the grove 
where they all regale themselves and dance, and during these nuptial 
dances the bride and bridegroom are each borne on the hips of one of 
their dancing friends; they are not allowed to put their feet to the 
ground. Thus wildly dancing, they proceed into the village, and the 
bride and bridegroom are taken to the latter’s house and anointed with 
oil; they are then brought outside, and the ceremony of touching each 
other’s forehead with the “ sendoor” is performed, followed by the 
splashing and sousing which becomes a general romp. Then the 
young couple are left to themselves tili morning. The bride’s maids 
arouse them as the cock crows, and after the public ablution of 
garments and their wearers the party breaks up. 
The gestures of the dancers on these occasions, and the songs, all 
bear more directly thar delicately on what is eran considered as 
the main object of the festivities. 
In Singbhoom, marriages, notwithstanding the lateness at which 
they take place are generally arranged by the parents, but their 
wishes are not unfrequently anticipated by love matches. In the 
various journeyings to and fro that are found necessary when a match 
