1834.] 



History of the Ramoossies. 



242 



The sketch I have here attempted to give of the history of the 

 Ramoossies might be considered mcomplete without an account of 

 their marriage rites, and these, although the subject may prove 

 somewhat tedious and uninteresting:, I shall now endeavour to ex- 

 plain. In the hope of imparting to it a character of greater interest, 

 it will be as well to illustrate the principles of that portion of their 

 judicial astrology which immediately applies to these ceremonies. 



The overpowering influence which the illusive system of Judicial 

 Astrology, and the worship of the host of heaven, placed in the 

 hands of the Brahmun priesthood, has always enabled them to 

 exercise a most profitable, but at the same time, a most pernicious 

 sway over the other classes of the Hindoos. 



The many sacrifices and offerings, required to be made on the 

 occasion of performing the prescribed rites, and ceremonies con- 

 nected with the nativity, marriage, and death of a Hindoo, whether 

 of the most pure or the inferior tribes, besides the innumerable 

 duties exacted of them, in connection with their spiritual and 

 temporal interests through life, seem to be nothing more or lesSj 

 than a criminal imposition practised upon the people by the crafty 

 priesthood, which has produced much misery and wretchedness 

 among them, and the malign influence of which is unceasing. 



It is very well known, that the ceremonies of espousal or betroth- 

 ment among the Hindoos, as well as those of their nuptials are 

 celebrated at a very early age, invariably long before pubescence. 

 The rules to be attended to, relative to these matters, are very 

 minutely but perplexedly described in their writings. 



The expense that is incurred in celebrating these ceremonies, or 

 I should more properly say the imprudent prodigality in which the 

 parents of the children indulge on these occasions although at the 

 time gratifying to their vanity, is even to many of those that may 

 be accounted wealthy a source of subsequent regret, and to such 

 as possess large and dependent families, it is but too frequently the 

 cause of lasting misery. 



In this extravagance, they seem prompted by a species of false 

 pride (a feeling which appears to h&ve become engrafted in their 

 nature) or an absurd desire to make such a show which they consi- 

 der necessary to uphold, not only their own credit, but also that of 

 their ancestors. To effect this, they not uncommonly (I mean the 

 poor, whether they are of the Brahminical or other castes) expend 

 whatever ready money they may have in hand, frequently the hard 

 earned fruit of many years labour ; moreover, they will deem it 

 necessary to pledge some of the golden ornaments of their females, 



