ON THE FESTIVALS AND FOLKLORE OF GILGTT. 99 



A period is also fixed for celebrating the marriage, and the party returns. About a 

 fortnight before the appointed time the father or guardian of the boy starts for the girl's 

 village, with three tuloos of gold (i tuloo = 8 mashas), which is given to her father, and 

 fixes the number of individuals to join the procession, as well as the exact date of arrival. 

 Returning home he makes all necessary arrangements and sends four seers of ghi 

 called "taoai ghi" {ghi of the pan). The "Tao" (pan) ceremony cannot be per- 

 formed until this ghi reaches the party, so that should there be any delay in sending 

 it, the side in fault pays one tuloo of gold as a fine for being late. The " Tao " ceremony 

 is performed before a number of the village people at 8. p.m., the night before marriage. 

 A large iron pan is placed in the middle of the assembly, and a man of the Katchati or 

 Babusi family rushes forth with some ghi, atta, and seeds of wild rue or leaves of chili ; 

 and, putting these things into the pan, burns a little fire under it till the contents begin to 

 smoke. To fumigate all the air in the room he holds the pan by its brim and, lifting his 

 hands above his head, commences to dance to the accompaniment of the band, while 

 the people applaud and sing this song : — 



(i) Tung tao Bair Gul yao 



Tung tao Jet Tanya na diayam 

 Tung tao aki Tananam. 



(2) Tung tao Gilit Malika 



Tung tao Jet Tanya na diayam 

 Tung tao aki Tananam. 



(3) Tung tao Rajat ai yashki, etc. 



(4) Tung tao Romot ai yashki, etc. 



(5) Tung tao Kashir Shah Mira, etc. 



(6) Tung tao polo Maqpuna, etc. 



(7) Tung tao beero Moghlota, etc. 



(8) Tung tao uzir Khana Ra, etc. 



(9) Tung tao Suchyo Girkisa, etc. 



(10) Tung tao Maryo Machotya, etc. 



(11) Tung tao Neelo But ajih, etc. 



Translation — 



(/) The pan belongs to Bair Gul. 



I will never let anyone place this pan on the hearth, .; ; 



I will place it there myself. 



(2) The pan belongs to Malik, the chief of Gilgit. 



I will never let any other place this pan on the hearth, 

 I will place it there myself. 



(3) The pan is worthy of belonging to kings, etc. 



(4) The pan is worth being kept by a family, etc. 



(5) The pan belongs to Shah Mir, the chief of Kashmir, etc. - 



(6) The pan belongs to Maqpun, the chief of Skardu, etc. 



(7) The pan belongs to Mughlot, the chief of Nagir, etc. 



