180 The " Rah" of Clwta-Ncujpore. 



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 " sindoor" is 

 differently performed. The bridegroom stands behind his bride with 

 his toes on her heels, and stretches 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 li 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 " biha" 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 " sindoor" is performed, followed by the 

 splashing and sousing which becomes a general romp. Then the 

 young couple are left to themselves till 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 than delicately on what is evidently 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 



