Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/173

Rh greased. The bridegroom is asked to lift the cup with one hand by his fingers, and to make three trials. It is of course next to impossible to lift the cup, and there is great fun and and merriment over his vain and fruitless attempts to grasp it. It can only be done by the stratagem of waxing the tips of the fingers beforehand.

Now the time has come for the father of the bridegroom to take his part in the ceremonies, which consists in his handing to the barber's wife, or Neeanee, for presentation to the bride's mother, a small basket called the "Vurree Surree." This basket contains some "Moullee," or red and yellow skeins of silk, and some combs dyed to a brilliant red colour. Then there are also in it sweetmeats of several kinds, the Allachi, or cardamums, the Loung, or clove, the Badam, or almond, the Kishmish, or raisin, the Gurree, or cocoanut kernel, also called Narril, the Misri, or sugar-candy, and so on, of a variety of flavours. The barber's wife then takes one of the combs from the basket, and some of the skeins of silk, and proceeds to comb the bride's hair, and to plait into it some of the silk. After this there is a slight pause, and all thoughts are fixed on the bride.

Now come in the friends and villagers to inspect in another place the bride's trousseau, or "Dhâj," which has been previously arranged upon bedsteads, or "Manjas," on which coverlets are spread. This is the time when the villagers form and express their opinions as to whether the parents of the bride have done their duty by her or not. The "Meerasie," or village bard, stands near the "Manjas," and calls out in an audible voice the articles given as presents to the bride, viz. so many jewels, and their probable value, so many dresses or suits of clothes, and other articles of attire, so many cooking utensils, or "Bhandah," or "Dekh-cheeanh," and whether a cow, a buffalo, a camel, or horse has been added or not. This is called the "Dahj Hoke." The "Meerasie" is rewarded for this duty by a rupee or so, a turban, or "Pagree." It is thought advisable to fee the