1840. J On the Huli in Malum. 315 



is nearly exploded) an objection on the part of either borrower or 

 lender, to its being removed from a neighbour's hearth. In travelling 

 among the Bheels of Bagur, we met with some tribes among whom the 

 prejudice on this point was very remarkable. (16) 



These more solemn ceremonies ended, riot is let loose ; now (17) com- 

 mences the "kubeer," the abuse, the foul language, which all join 

 in without a feeling of shame or of anger. (18) The children are not 

 the least active in this war of words, and at the pitch of their voices is 

 a " Galian gate hai ke sunnesi husi ati hai" (19), being incited to it by 

 their elders, as it is believed they will thus lose all fear of bhoots, and 

 jins. (20) Many of the more respectable people return about this time to 

 their homes to be present at the interesting ceremony of burning the 

 family Huli. The middle of the room having been carefully swept, 

 and smoothed with cow dung, the pater familias describes with "chun- 

 dun" a figure of a square, ornamenting the edges and centre with 

 some pattern, as of a lotus leaf, and in the centre of the interior lotus, 

 raises a small heap of dry sticks, bulks, &c. ; then taking a roll of 

 thread in his hand, and measuring every one present in succession, he 

 cuts off for each individual, tall or short, a portion of the thread, equi- 

 valent to his height, and lays the pieces one after the other on the little 

 gur ka Huli ; he does not forget also to cut off a thread for himself, and 

 making a guess at the height of any absent relation or' intimate 

 friends. This thread may be considered in the light of a scape goat, 

 for as it disappears in the flame, all the griefs, sickness, and ill luck (if 

 not the sins) of the persons included in the rite, are supposed to be dis- 

 sipated, and burnt with it. (21) The ceremonies just before celebrated 



16. The fires which ought not to be allowed to go out, (see Ward's Hindus) and 

 which in former times were as carefully watched as was ever the undying flame of 

 Jew, Sabian, or Vestal, are now hardly to be found but in the families of Agnihotra 

 Brahmuns, to which class however the custom is by no means confined exclusively, as 

 might be suspected from Ward's note ; the practice, apparently from the difficulty and 

 inconvenience of its observance, has fallen into general disuse. See A. R. 2(J0. 



17. Or ought to commence, but in reality the licence of the tongue begins at least 

 a week before the burning. 



18. Any fool, says the Brimha Vaiverta, who does not do so, goes to hell for as 

 long as the sun and moon reign. 



19. The quaint expression of a little Casi manual of the yearly festivals ; some parts 

 of it have been copied into the " Hindu selections." 



20. In England fires are in some places lighted on Christmas eve, to drive away 

 evil spirits. 



21. A zealous analogist would suggest some resemblance between this rite, and 

 the worship during the Compitalia of the Lares, to whom it was at that time customary 

 to offer small images of wool, one for every member of a family. (Pompeius Festus 

 ad verba Lania et Pila.) 



2s 



