Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/29

Rh man of (1), descended from the king—by a concubine. Any offence offered to either of these when on duty is punishable by fine.

Offences of the nature of slight personal injury, refusing to pay a small debt, and such like, are settled by a tribal court, the injured party receiving compensation. One refusing to abide by the sentence which is awarded is boycotted—cannot draw water from the well, no one will eat with him or enter his house,, no one will give him fire, and he is disallowed the privilege of the general assistance of the caste should he require it.

"Where there are ten men God is present", is the usual formula of oath, which reminds us of "Where two or three are gathered together, etc."; in important cases a man swears by a child which he holds in his arms.

The ceremonies connected with marriage make it rather an elaborate affair. First there is the betrothal, for which an auspicious day is chosen by consulting a Brahmin astrologer. The bridegroom is taken by his parents to the bride's hut—a small, circular, thatched construction of mud walls and conical roof, like a large beehive.

"Saduyagâdu" spreads out a sheet, around which the parents and near relatives of the bride and bridegroom sit on mats, bridegroom facing east. When ordered by the company, "Saduyagâdu" brings betel, flowers, etc., and places them on the sheet. Bridegroom then produces six four-anna pieces (about the size of sixpence, but at present worth much less), one of which he gives to the parents of the bride for toe-rings and a string of black beads, the marriage tokens, and the other four pieces he gives into the custody of the "Saduyagâdu", who keeps them towards the wedding feast. The parents of both parties stand on opposite sides of the sheet; "Saduyagâdu" puts betel nuts and flowers in their hands and asks them to declare their consent for the marriage of their offspring; this they do, and the marriage day is fixed. But if there is a death in either family, or among their cattle, or if either party