NO. 36. — 1888.] MAKKIAGE CUSTOMS OF THE MOORS. 221 



lands, gold and silver, brass and copperware (yenkala pdt- 

 tiram), household furniture (viddu taddumuddu), and cash 

 (rokkam), in all amounting to, say, five thousand rixdollars. 

 Ahamadu Lebbe, in his turn, admitting the personal eligibi- 

 lity of the amiable 'A'yesha, objects to the dowry as insuffi- 

 cient, and urges that his son Mira Lebbe has had better offers 

 from other sources, drawing special attention to the utter 

 inadequacy of the cash part of the dowry to meet the expenses 

 of such a wedding as Mira Lebbe should have. Satisfied 

 with having broken the ice, the ambassador returns, and 

 urges the lady's father to increase the sum to a more rea- 

 sonable amount. Soon after a meeting is convened of the 

 male members of Mira Lebbe's family, — uncles, brothers, 

 and cousins of mature age, — and the match being decided 

 on, the dowry is finally settled, say, as follows : — 





Rds. 



One-fourth of the garden Hitina-watta 



1,000 



One-fourth of the house standing thereon 



1,000 



The paddy field called Addena-kumbura 



1,000 



In gold and silver jewellery ... 



1,000 



In brass and copperware (venhala pdttiram) 



500 



In household furniture 



500 



Rokkam, or cash 



1,000 



Total... 



6,000 



Every item should be estimated in even numbers, and, except 

 the item of cash, which alone goes to the bridegroom, not 

 much importance is attached to them, nor is their value criti- 

 cally examined, all but the cash going to the bride. If the 

 rokkam is the amount usual in the particular caste and class 

 there is no further haggling, and the matrimonial ambas- 

 sador pays another visit to Ahamadu Lebbe. Arrived there 

 he enumerates afresh the advantages of the match proposed, 

 and hands the above-mentioned memorandum to Mira Lebbe, 

 eloquently urging his acceptance of the terms. After this a 

 similar meeting takes place at Mira Lebbe's house, for neglect 

 to consult everybody who is anybody to either of the parents 

 would be resented as a life-long insult. At this meeting it 

 is agreed nem. con. to accept the proposal, and the acceptance 



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