Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/162

138 and become greatly pleased and animated. The next thing he does is to give them some small pieces of wood, of about five inches in length, neatly turned and painted. These are called "Theelleeanh," and are much in the shape of a spool or bobbin, and are used by the women of the country to wind the cotton from which they spin their thread. The cotton, when wound upon them and prepared for spinning, is called "Poonee," from the Hindustani, meaning rolls of cotton prepared for spinning. He reserves two or three of these "Theelleeanh" to be given by the girls to his sweetheart.

When the youth is about to return home after having swung with the girls all round, he is given to eat a rather toothsome piece of confectionery, made from parched Indian corn, or wheat, and mixed with sugar. This is called "Murranday." He is also regaled with some other sweet, made of flour, sugar, and ghee, and termed "Kahar." He is, moreover, made the possessor of a whole suit of clothes from the girl's parents or guardians, with a pair of neatly embroidered shoes.

Should another "Eedh" come round before the marriage, the same process of presentation of sweets and clothes to one another is carried out, but the youth does not accompany those who present them to the girl.

It is usual to betroth girls at a very early age indeed, sometimes when they are little more than mere children. It is a reproach to allow them to grow up to be young women before this ceremony is gone through. In like manner, it is considered the duty of all parents and guardians to see that their sons are married when they are capable of entering into that state. Marriages of course occur between parties of all ages; but it is the general custom of the country for children to be betrothed at an early age, and in accordance with the forms and ceremonies here detailed.

Matters having now reached a stage when it is considered fitting that the engaged couple shall be united in marriage,