MADRAS JOURNAL 



OF 



LITERATURE AND SCIENCE. 



No. b.— October, 1834, 



Continued from page 243. 



^ I.— i4 Sketch of the History of the Ramoossies residing in the 

 Sattarah Territory and in the Poena arid Ahmednnggur dis- 

 tricts — By Captain Alexander Mackintosh of the 27th Regt, 

 M, iV. /. Commanding Ahmednnggur Local Corps. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Their marriage ceremonies and remarks relative to them. — The first steps 

 taken. — The Ramoossy nuptial ceremonies scarcely differ from that of the 

 Shoodur.— The ceremonies of the Mangnie, Koonkoo, and Snkkur Poorah 

 explained. — The Astrologer consulted respecting a fortunate day to cele- 

 brate the ceremony. — The besmearing the parties with Hulhid.— The 

 Joombra — Erect a temporary shed or Mandwah.— Worship the household 

 gods. — The Mandwah consecrated by placing the Dewuk in it.— The 

 GonduU. — Preparations in the bride's house. — The bridegroom proceeds 

 to the village in which the bride resides.—They move in procession.— The 

 Bhutt who performs the marriage ceremony enters thq Mandwah. — Tiic 

 whole of the proceedings connected with the ceremony exphiined. — Pro- 

 ceedings at the Jannoosswarah.— Perquisites of the Ballottahdars, «!i:c. — 

 Presents made to the parents of the bride and bridegroom. — The bi ide 

 accompanies the bridegroom to the house of his parents.— The W urat 

 procession with torches. — The expenses attending the marriage ceremony. 

 — That of the Mhotur or Paatt explained. 



The first step taken by a parent, is to ascertain where he can 

 procure among the peopie of his own tribe, (but of a different family 

 stock,) a suitable match for his child, when it has attained the aire 

 of three, four, five, or six years. In general, the father, an old 

 female relative, or some other member of the family, is employed to 

 make the necessary enquiries on this point. 



It frequently happens among the higher castes, that it is the 

 father of the girl who sets these inquiries on foot in tlic first instance; 

 but among the lower orders, it is more commonly the father of the 

 boy that does so. The following, is the mode of proceediui; uuioiig 



