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Memoir Descriptive of the Vurragherry 



[Oct. 



ed in marriage when very young, but the union does not take place 

 until the parties are at an advanced age, owing, it is said, to a defici- 

 ency in the number of females among them ; some of the men are on 

 the above account obliged to lead a life of celibacy. A plurality of 

 wives, which is not uncommon, is only admitted in case the first proves 

 barren, but a connection of such a nature cannot take place without 

 the consent of the first wife, which must be obtained, and a widow 

 is by no means restricted, she being at liberty to marry another man, 

 if she feels so inclined, but they often prefer remaining in widowhood. 

 Chastity does not appear to be a leading virtue with their women. 



The marriage ceremony is performed at the house of the bride j a 

 pandal being raised before the door, under it the parties about to 

 be united undergo ablution, they then retire into the house, and 

 are seated on the floor, previously garnished, with their faces 

 towards the east, a lamp is kept burning on a stool, also a 

 measure full of paddy and a symbol of Vignashuer made of cow 

 dung, on the head of which are stuck two blades of the arruvumpilla 

 grass, to it the bride and bridegroom prostrate themselves, on rising, 

 the relatives present the tally, a small golden trinket, to the bride- 

 groom, who ties it round the neck of the bride, a basin of milk being 

 introduced in which is steeped some arisha leaves, Ficus Religiosa, 

 with which the elder relatives sprinkle some of it on the heads of the 

 bride and bridegroom ; they then get up and prostrate themselves 

 before their joint relatives, and the marriage concludes with an 

 entertainment ; on distributing beetle to the company, the 

 bridegroom accompanied by his bride retires to his own house, where 

 the day after he entertains the friends and relatives. The puryum 

 or marriage gift is thirty fanams, and a cloth given by the bride- 

 groom to the bride's relations ; the money 13 converted into jewels to 

 adorn her person. Estates invariably devolve to the eldest 

 son ; in case there be two or more, the property is equally distributed 

 among them. They purchase their proedial slaves the Polians, the 

 price of a male is thirty fanams, that of a female fifty. She is 

 considered of more value for the children she may bear, who, when 

 born, are the property of their master. 



