36 O N . T H E I N K A B I T A N T % O F 



otherwife, as they never wifh to give a verbal refufal ; and therefore, if n<s> 

 body returns the next day, the invitation is underftood to be refufed. 



On the nuptial day, the parties invited go to the bride's houfe; it' 

 being the cuftom among the Garrows for the bride to fetch the bridegroom : 

 when the wine, &c. are ready, and all the company arrived, they begin 

 iinging and dancing, and now and then take a merry cup ; while a party 

 of the women carry the bride to the river, warn het k and on their return 

 home drefs her out in her Deft ornaments ; this completed, it is notified to- 

 the company, and the mufic ceafes : then a party take up the wine, pro- 

 virions, drums, pans, and a cock and hen, and carry them to the bride- 

 groom's houfe in procelTion ; the cock and hen being carried by the prieft, 

 after which, the bride follows, with a party of women, walking in the 

 centre, till fhe arrives at the bridegroom's houfe, where fhe and her party 

 feat themfelves in one corner of the Chaung neat the door ; the remaining 

 vifiters then proceed to the bridegroom's houfe, and the men fit at the fur- 

 ther end of the room, oppo-fite to the women ; the men then again begin ; 

 finging and dancing; the bridegroom is called for; but, as he retires to 

 another Chaunz, fome fearch is made for him, as if he were miffing, and* 

 as foon as they find him, they give a fhout ; they then carry him to the- 

 river, warn him, return, and drefs him in his war-drefs ; which done, the 

 women carry the bride to her own Chaung, where fhe is put in the centre $ 

 •and, notice of this- being brought to the vifiters at the bridegroom's houfe, 

 they take up the wine, Sec. and prepare to go with the bridegroom, when 

 his father, mother, and family cry and howl in the moft lamentable man- 

 ner, and fome force is ufed to feparate him from them. At laft they depart, ■ 

 the bride's father leading the way, and the company following one by one ? 

 the bridegroom in the centre. On entering the bride's -Chaung, they make 



