68 MR. R. B. BAINBRIDGE ON 



right hand being used for the purpose. The householder and his brother then take 

 a little ddru in leaf cups, and, calling on Ber Gosain, repeat the above prayer and pour 

 the ddru over the plastered earth and over the other offerings. In the meantime the 

 drummers dance and sing. The Demno does not permit much waste of ddru ; he seizes 

 the leaf cups and drinks the greater part, being by this time beside himself with fren- 

 zied incantations. The goat is now brought before the sal twig and its head is taken 

 off with one blow : if done with one blow, it is a good omen and the sacrifice is accepted, 

 if not, twice as much expenditure has to be incurred for the next pujah. As soon as the 

 blood is sprinkled on the sacrifice, the Demno seizes the goat, and, placing his mouth 

 to the severed neck, drinks the blood as it gushes forth ! The remainder of the ddru is 

 drunk by the Demno, the householder and his brother. As soon as the goat's head 

 falls, a lota of water is poured thereon. The pochai is then divided and more singing 

 and dancing take place. The head of the goat is cooked and eaten on the spot by the 

 party. While the pujah is going on, the drummers dance and sing all round the spot. 

 Two of the men are dressed as women with short skirts and are adorned with bells, 

 bracelets, etc. The song is as follows, — in the name of the householder offering the 

 pujah : — 



" Ore Banroh majie Pawe erwene, 

 Ariojario — qegrojah ; 

 Erwathraweh kilesoh, 

 Erwathrani kileso ! " 



(Medio). 



The song is full of indecent suggestions with respect to the householder and his 

 wife, and I refrain, therefore, from giving a translation. 



The party now returns beating drums and singing the song given above, and 

 then enters the dwelling of the householder. They dance at least five times round 

 the house, to a slower measure, still rendering the same song. The drums are then 

 given back to the householder who offers more pochai. After this there is a general 

 feast ending in a dance with the girls : this is a different dance with a different measure. 

 The dance finishes in an orgie, and the young men and maidens usually give free 

 vent to their amorous desires by disappearing into the jungle ! This describes the 

 great festival in honour of the godling. But in the case of journeys, etc., these ela- 

 borate ceremonies are not observed, the Charri Beddu and Demno are not consulted, 

 pochai and other articles are not required. On the day of departure, in the morning, 

 the traveller proceeds with the sal twig, a fowl, a little oil, some rice, and a miniature 

 bow and arrow, and he performs the pujah on the western path, while he sits and faces 

 the east. He repeats a prayer asking for a prosperous journey and a safe return. 

 The fowl is killed and the blood is sprinkled on the sacrifice, but the fowl and the 

 severed head are taken home. 



This godling has no idol or image, the two leaves on the sal twig represent the male 

 and female on the same branch so to speak. (Maq koro (Malto) equals s#/-twig, 

 the godling itself). 



