Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/169

Rh addresses himself to the bridegroom's father, or his nearest male relative, and bids that he will bring his son to the "Nikah," or marriage, and to prayers. The little party is then made up, and is generally limited to the bridegroom and his father, the best man, the Kazi, or priest, and two or three immediate friends of the bridegroom. These go into the bride's apartments, where seats are duly prepared for them, and every token of joy and affection is shown to the bridegroom in order to give him encouragement.

The "Lumberdar," or head-man of the village, sometimes called "Malak," or "Mustajur," then comes in and joins the party, when due respect is shown to him, and he receives his accustomed fees from the bride's relations. Adjoining the room where this party is sitting is another room, where the bride and her relatives and friends are collected; the two rooms being divided off from one another by a screen, or "Purdah." Each can hear the buzz of voices on either side, but cannot see one another.

At a signal, two of the most elderly friends of the bridegroom rise from their seats, and place themselves near to the screen, and in solemn and subdued tones they ask the momentous question of the day, viz., whether the bride is willing that the "Nikah," or marriage, shall be solemnised. She is presumed to say "Yes!" but as her voice is not at first heard, the old friends, or "Vakeels," or agents, again address themselves to her bridesmaid, or "Saballee," and girl-friends, saying: "Oh, girls! tell us if the bride says the Nikah shall be or not." To this the bride is heard to say in a feeble voice, "Let it be!" These words are then repeated by the Saballee and all the girls in chorus. Whereupon the old friends return to their seats, saying to all the company that the girl is willing. To avoid, however, any risk of mistake, the question is asked thrice, and on each occasion the old friends repeat the words, "Yes, she is willing." The Kazi, or priest, now turns to the bridegroom, and asks for a confession of his faith, saying, "Are you a