Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 5, 1894.djvu/31

Rh seated side by side, each on a wooden mortar (an upright log of wood with a hole in the top, used for pounding grain), while the caste-folk chaff them in terms neither remarkably delicate nor subtily allusive. They are separated after awhile, and dressed in new cloths. A woollen thread, to which is fastened a bit of saffron, is tied round the left wrist of the bride, and the same is tied round the right wrist of the bridegroom, who is at the same time armed with a dagger. Again they are brought together, the corners of their clothes are tied, and, holding hands, they enter the bride's room, while some songs are sung; in a few minutes they are once more separated.

At midnight, the Saduyagâdu goes off with a torch and procures a branch of a certain tree which he fixes firmly in the ground in front of the bridegroom, brings a wooden mortar, and with a cloth that has been worn by the bridegroom, ties it to the branch. The use of the wooden mortar in England for quite another ceremony is no doubt well known to you. Under date 1677, I see that at Sandwich, Isle of Thanet:—"A woman carries the wooden mortar throughout the town, hanging on an old broom upon her shoulder, one going before her tinkling a small bell, for abusing Mrs. Mayoress."

The pots of water, it should be noted, must not on any account be touched by anyone, nor must the lamps be extinguished. So important are these particulars, that a certain individual is told off to look after them.

Between 2 and 3 the bridal pair are seated in front of the branch, and in presence of all the caste-folk the bridegroom ties the string of black beads round the bride's neck. They pour rice over each other, and the elders pour some over both. This rice is retained for the feast to follow. The bride is removed to her chamber, and the bridegroom is asked to draw the branch out of the ground—a test of his strength which, if he is unable to fulfil, he is ashamed, and it is done for him.

Next morning all regather, and the bridegroom gives