No. 36. — 1888.] MAEKIAGE CUSTOMS OF THE MOORS. 223 



tion has come to solicit Mira Lebbe as a husband for 

 'A'yesha, the daughter of Hassim Marikar, their dear friend 

 and near relative. This time another panegyric is then 

 passed by the host upon the virtues and merits of the bride 

 elect, and the mutual advantages to the respective families of 

 the proposed alliance reiterated. A fdtihah 1 is pronounced 

 by the priest as a final ratification of the compact, but on this 

 occasion nothing is said about the dowry. Mira and 'A'yesha 

 are now affianced, although the ancient custom of exchanging 

 rings, now obsolete, has not been gone through. A rich feast 

 follows, and the party disperses in the best of humours. 



From this time a periodical exchange of presents keeps 

 the flame from dying out. If the Muharram, or Hdji 

 Perundl, happen to intervene between betrothal and marriage, 

 the bridegroom is expected to send sundry presents of silk 

 cambdyas and king-half jackets to the bride, and similar 

 gifts to her mother and sisters ; which compliment the 

 bride responds to with trays of rice and curries and all 

 kinds of sweetmeats, in the preparation of which 'A'yesha 

 is expected to have a hand. 



There is yet another ceremony before the marriage, viz., 

 the payment of the chitanam, or dowry money, which is 

 a function of importance, and takes place some months 

 in advance of the nuptials. As has been said already, the 

 cash is the most important part of the dowry, for it 

 alone goes to the husband, and it enables him to meet 

 the wedding expenses and to purchase the bride's trousseau. 

 The wedding trousseau, called kadda uduppddda, literally, 

 " to tie and to clothe," consists of a gold neck ornament called 

 tali, a silk ca?nbdya, ratvukkai, and jacket to match, 

 with a duplicate set of more ordinary materials. The 

 presentation of this chitanappanam is a great event in 

 the life of the young Moor, both because it is the public 

 announcement of the intended wedding, and because he 

 then becomes the possessor of a larger sum of money than 



1 The first chapter of the £urd?i.—B., Hon. See. 



