No. 36. — 1888.] MAEEIAGE CUSTOMS OF THE MOOES. 227 



length of each other in the middle of the assemblage 

 (kalari), and are placed on the floor at such distances 

 from each other as to enable about five men to form 

 a group round each tray. When all the guests have 

 been supplied with trays, plates are supplied for eating from, 

 and the priest having said "Bismillah" ("in the name of 

 Allah") a simultaneous attack commences, and is steadily 

 and silently continued. All cease eating about the same 

 time, as if by consent, and drink water, warm or cold, after 

 which they wash their hands into the plate from which 

 they had been eating. The debris is now cleared away 

 and betel served again, the priest pronounces the usual 

 fdtihah, and the guests disperse, each saying to the bride- 

 groom "pdyiddu vdren" literally, " I will go and come again." 

 The men all gone, the fair sex are entertained in a similar 

 manner. 



By about 3 o'clock, the house being clear of visitors, 

 a number of trays are despatched, each covered with 

 a white cloth and carried on the head of a cooly. They 

 are accompanied by some young male member of the bride- 

 groom's family in gala dress, and are taken to the bride's 

 house. There he is received with much cordiality, and is 

 presented with a gold ring. 



In the evening there is a fresh assembling of the friends 

 of the families "to do honour to the bridegroom," as 

 they call it, that is, to give him the usual chantoshdm 

 and accompany him to the bride's, where the Jcdvin, or 

 " marriage rites," are to be solemnised. The guests having 

 again seated themselves in order of rank and seniority, and 

 after the chew of betel, at a propitious moment announced 

 by the priest a move is made for the presentation of the 

 chantoshdm. A scribe is improvised, and the immediate or 

 intimate friends of the bridegroom head the list with the 

 highest sum (say fifty rupees), then follow others with 

 smaller sums ; never less, however, than single rupees, which, 

 while the minimum amount, make up the bulk of the 

 contributions. Thus, sometimes a thousand rupees have 



