228 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



been collected in addition to rings of varying value 

 presented by the relatives. 



While this is going on in the hall or principal room in the 

 house, a very different scene takes place within. The bride- 

 groom, who is seldom present at the giving of the chantoshdm, 

 is supposed to be at his toilet. To the due performance of this 

 a bath is essential, in the course of which the cosmetics used 

 are some burnt lime, ground saffron, and mi poonac, soap 

 being only used by extreme reformers, and being regarded as 

 far from an improvement on the mi poonac as a purifier. 

 Under a white canopy held over his head by four admiring 

 friends, and escorted by a dozen or more others of about 

 his own age, the bridegroom is conducted to the nearest 

 well (a tub, being a modern innovation, is quite out of the 

 question), the attendants keeping up a continual chorus of 

 " olu " " olu." What this means I do not know, unless it 

 represents the wusu, or lesser ablution, which a man 

 must perform before entering a mosque, beginning to pray, 

 or even touching the Kurdn. 1 Arrived at the bath the 

 happy man sits on a chair, while his friends souse him 

 with many chatties of cold water poured over his shaven 

 crown, and rub him heartily with the lime, saffron, and 

 poonac. Having returned to the house, his ablutions duly 

 performed, he is seated in a chair and arrayed in the 

 most gorgeous attire. A resplendent turban tastefully folded 

 round the Moorish cap surmounts his head, a pair of 

 loose silk pantaloons swathes his limbs, fastened at the 

 waist by a rich sash or belt, a flowing silk or satin artJcaralcTcd 

 reaching to the knees over a snow white cambric shirt, 

 and a pair of slippers completes the costume. The happy 

 man's neck is encircled by numerous gold chains and 

 padakkankal (chains made of gold pieces about the size of a 

 shilling), so that his chest is one mass of glittering gold : 

 this, too, though Muhammadan men are strictly prohibited 



O'u, Tamil, wuzu Arabic, " the washing 1 of face, head, feet, &c, 

 before every time of prayer " — the " lesser ablution," as distinguished from 

 ghuel, or "greater ablution." — B., Hon. Sec. 



