THE SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS. 51 



that the youth is not agreeable, whatever may be the reasons, the parents say, " Very 

 well," and a lota of water is handed to the Situdar. This may be brought by anyone. 

 The girl then sits facing the east, the Situdar places a rupee on her head and pours 

 the water over her ; in this case it is necessary to pour the water, not to sprinkle it. 

 After this the Situdar says, " See your daughter is free to marry elsewhere," and then 

 they take their departure. The rupee is the property of the girl's parents. 



In case the young man and the girl are agreeable, the youth faces the east and the 

 girl stands and faces her swain. The sun is a god, called " Beru Gosain" ; hence the 

 custom of facing the east. The girl takes the malla and the rupee. The Situdar, 

 the young man and their companions are then fed, and after eating they depart. 

 Before starting the Situdar is asked to bring information within a few days as to when 

 the youth and his parents wish the actual wedding to take place. The Situdar carries 

 the request to the boy's parents who say, "Good, go after four days and tell the girl's 

 parents that we fix the 15th day hence for our visit." No special day of the week is 

 selected and no oracle is consulted. But a date is fixed for the purpose of enabling the 

 girl's parents to prepare pochai. Pochai is also made ready at the house of the 

 youth's parents. The parents now visit their relatives — the mother her relatives 

 and the father his relatives — and tell them as regards the marriage about to take place. 

 This is not, however, done by the girl's parents. These relatives present gifts according 

 to immemorial custom, such as, money, mall as, arrows, and tangas (axes), knives, 

 etc. The male relatives give knives, tangas, arrows and money, and the female 

 relatives mallas and money. Bows are not presented. These offerings are all collected 

 in the youth's house. Edibles of all kinds are gathered on both sides according to 

 circumstances. When the day fixed by the youth's parents has arrived, two persons 

 from the girl's parents called Lapsitu (Feast-broker) come round. They are relatives 

 of the girl's parents, and they come empty-handed. On arrival, they ask the young 

 man's parents as regards the quantity of gifts collected. The answer to this question 

 is not given immediately. They are asked to be seated and water is given by the 

 Bedsitu, the Lapsitus wash their feet, and their persons are oiled by the Bedsitu and they 

 smoke. Food is now offered and then pochai. While drinking and making merry the 

 boy's parents produce the gifts collected, — money, arrows, etc., — and count them out 

 before the Lapsitus. This is done by the father or the Bedsitu. But, in the case of 

 money, the whole sum collected is not shown ; about half the sum is counted out in a 

 flat basket or brass vessel. If all the money be shown many pseudo relatives collect 

 on the side of the girl, and so about half the sum collected is kept hidden. The Lapsitus 

 are, however, told that all the money collected has been shown and that, being poor 

 folk, the girl is desired in marriage as an honour, it being unfortunate that more money 

 could not be collected, and other words to this effect. These words are said by the 

 Bedsitu, and the father. Then the Lapsitus are presented with one rupee each as 

 earnest money, so that they may favour the side of the youth and his parents. One 

 rupee each is the fixed sum, but less is sometimes paid. After this the Situs, Bed and 

 Lap, the boy's father and others, go outside and see the bull or ox that is to be sent to 

 the girl's house — buffalos or pigs cannot be sent. The animal should not be lame, 



