Hie " KM 9 of Ghota-Nagpere. 181 



is being arranged, omens are carefully observed, and the match is broken 

 off, if they are unfavourable. At the actual marriage there is much 

 feasting and dancing, but little ceremony. The turning point of the 

 affair is, when the bride and bridegroom mix and drink off some of 

 the beer they have each been helped to ; the boy pours some of the 

 beer given to him into the girl's cup, she pours from her cup into the 

 boy's cup, and they drink and thus become of the same " kceli" or 

 clan, for the Hos, Moondahs and Oraons are all -divided into families 

 under this name, and may not take to wife a girl of their own kceli. 



This division of the primitive races into something having a 

 semblance to caste, will be found in the North Eastern Frontier as well 

 as in this province. The Garrows, for instance, are divided into what 

 are called " maharis," and a man may not marry a girl of his own 

 mahari. 



It is obvious that the custom does not spring from any such notion 

 of caste as are found amongst the Hindoos, and that it is not one 

 which these races have adopted from the Hindoos, because with a 

 Hindoo, caste is destroyed by a marriage out of it. It is equally 

 opposed to the custom of the Jews, whose daughters (at least if 

 heiresses) were obliged to take husbands of their own tribe.* 



In Singbhoom the bride and bridegroom do not touch each other 

 with " sindoor", as is the custom in Chota-Nagpore. The Oraons and 

 Moondahs may have adopted the custom from the Hindoos, and the 

 primitive practice of the race is probably as it is found amongst the 

 more isolated Hos. 



A very singular scene may sometimes be noticed in the markets of 

 Singbhoom. A young man suddenly makes a pounce on a girl and 

 carries her off bodily, his friends covering the retreat (like a group 

 from the picture of the rape of the Sabines). This is generally a 

 summary method of surmounting the obstacles that cruel parents may 

 have placed in the lovers' path ; but though it is sometimes done in 

 anticipation of the favourable inclination of the girl herself, and in spite 

 of her struggles and tears, no disinterested person interferes, and the 

 girls, late companions of the abducted maiden, often applaud the 

 exploit. 



The Ho husband has to pay a high price for his wife, and it is 

 * Numbers xxxvi. 6, 



