595 



History of the Ramoossics. 



[Oct. 



vellah.— The Kianty.— The Kendall.— Tlie Wukmy.— The Punchuk.— 

 Com Uidinu observations. — Remarks refrardinir their fvuK ral rites. — The 

 naniinu ot" tlieir chihlren, with a description of the Oukknr Chukkiir, and 

 the mode of determining their names. 



The live following- months, Margysur, Magb, Falgoon, Vysakh, 

 and Jesth, are those in which the Hindoos solemnize their marriage 

 ceremonies, likewise in the beginning of Ahkhar (Ashar) to the 

 north of the Godavery, and south of the Kristna. But at the tem- 

 ple of Triputty (Ballajee) in the Karnatic, the ceremony may be 

 performed during any day in tlie year, excepting the peetur paat or 

 fifteen days while offerings are presented to the manes of their an- 

 cestors. 



Should the boy and girl have botli been born in the month of 

 Jesth, the ceremony cannot be solemnized in that month, and 

 should only one of the party has been born in Jesth, it will not be 

 advisable. 



During the period of occultation of the planets Jupiter and Ve- 

 nus, no marriages are celebrated, nor during the Anwass, (last day 

 of the moon,) nor at the Sunkrant (the time the sun passes from one 

 Zodiacal sign to another, nor at the Sheowust, when the planet 

 Jupiter is in the constellation Leo,) which takes place once in twelve 

 years. 



The class or caste of the boy and girl, also their freedom from 

 fault, or rather their good and evil fortune, is inquired into. This 

 is rather a lengthy examination into thirty-six properties or qualifi- 

 cations said to be derived from the eight following ; 



1st The Wurrun, class or caste possesses one property 



2d The Wussh 



Subjection 



do. 



two 



do. 



3d The Bhatara 



Constellation 



do. 



three 



do. 



4th The Yeonie 



Birth 



do. 



four 



do. 



5th The Kechur or Ghru Mischievous 



do. 



five 



do. 



6th The Gun Mytry 



Indentity 



do. 



six 



do. 



7th The Bhukoot 



Amity and hostility of the signs 



do. 



8th The Nardy 



Separation 



do. 



eight 



do. 



These being added up give thirty-six qualifications. 



Now they say the Wurrun is divided in the following manner, al- 

 lotting three of the twelve Zodiacal signs to each class. 



First, To the Brahmun, Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. 



2nd, To the Ekxchutry they assign Aries, Leo, and Sagitarius. 



3rd, To the Vyse they give Taurus, Virgo, and Mukkur, or Cap- 

 ricorn. 



4th, To the Shoodur, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. 



