Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/317

COURTSHIP, BETROTHAL, AND MARRIAGE 265 present. Thereat the friends of the bridegroom also give betel to the friends of the bride and bear witness as aforesaid, and they take to be witnesses them that be present. When the time for the marriage is come, then they proceed, with no long delay, to the celebration of their nuptials. I say " when the time for the mar- riage is come," for these heathen do not marry through- out the entire year, but only in the months of February, May, June, October, and in the beginning of Novem- ber, on certain good days and hours, in the observance whereof they are very nice. Whensoever the appointed time is come for the mar- riage to be completed, then prepare they the homam (soma) fire from the wood of a tree which in their tongue is hight rawasittou and is full holy. This fire is for a witness of the wedlock which is here begun, and thereover the Bramin speaketh a prayer. There- after the bridegroom thrice taketh his hands full of rice and casteth it over the head of his bride, and so also doth the bride to the bridegroom. Then the father of the bride taketh some garments, jewels, and the like, according to his ability, and adorneth the bride therewith; and likewise doth he also to the bridegroom. Then washeth he the bridegroom's feet, and the bride's mother poureth water over them. Thereafter the father taketh the hand of his daughter in his hand and poureth water therein and some gold; and if that he be rich, he holdeth much more in his hand, and thus he giveth his daughter's hand over to the bridegroom in the name of God, and saith: " I have no more to do with thee;