1891.] 
W. H. P. Driver —The Koroas. 
27 
several families, each of which is known by its ‘gotor,’ and no two 
people of the same gotor are allowed to marry. The gotor stands for 
our surname. An orthodox marriage is conducted as follows. First the 
betrothal is formally gone through by the parents of the bridegroom, 
taking to the parents of the bride two ‘kalsis’ of ‘ daru ’ or native 
liquor made from the ‘ mahwa,’ and settling the price of the girl, which 
is generally about Rs. 5. The young man goes with his parents next 
time and takes besides the Rs. 5, a ‘ khassi ’ goat, a piece of cloth 
for his intended, and another for his future mother-in-law. On the 
wedding-day a feast is given at the house of the bridegroom’s father to 
which all relatives and friends are invited, and a party of the bride¬ 
groom’s fiiends go and bring the bride. A person called an ‘ aguait* 
arranges all the ceremonies. The clothes of the bride and bridegroom 
which have previously been dyed yellow are tied together by the 
‘ Lokundis,’ who must be unmarried people. The ‘ Lokundis ’ are the 
bridesmaids and bestmen. The bridegroom then puts ‘ sindur ’ on the 
bride’s forehead, and the ‘ aguait ’ throws a fist-full of uncooked rice 
on the ground. The happy pair then go and salaam, to their parents 
and to the assembled company. They then seat themselves between 
their parents, and the husband puts bangles on his wife’s wrists, and 
anklets on her feet. The company then begin to eat and drink, and 
afterwards the young people commence their dancing, which is kept up 
all night. The next morning, after a final drink, all the party go 
and bathe, and then leave the happy couple to their own devices. 
Marriage customs .—A Koroa can marry a second wife, if he has no 
children by his first, or if his first wife leaves him, or if he is divorced 
from her. If his wife leaves him, he can get back her price, from her 
parents or guardians, and this is as good as a divorce. Widows can 
remarry, and a man who marries a widow or divorcee is called a ‘ Biyahur.’ 
If a man leaves his wife without a cause, she can call a ‘ panchayat,’ 
and have him find Rs. 5. When young people marry without their 
parents’ leave, it is called a ‘ Dhuku.’ The relatives then hold a 
‘ panchayat,’ and make the young man give a ‘ khassi ’ goat and two 
‘ kalsis ’ of ‘ daru,’ for their benefit. 
Birth customs .—For about a week or ten days after a birth, the 
mother is considered unclean. Children are named a month after they 
are born. They are only named after their grandparents, when the 
mother dreams of a visit from the said ancestors. If a girl is to be born, 
the woman dreams that either her own or her husband’s mother came 
with offerings of ‘ tarpat ’ earrings or beads ; but if a boy is expected, 
she dreams that either her own or her husband’s father came with an 
offering of a ‘ dibi ’ or a ‘ batua ’ (small brass pots for eating out of). 
