Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/522

 tents. I must not forget to mention that from the moment the bride is rubbed with this turmeric, she is a prisoner for ten days; not allowed to move from her charpāī, on which she sits up or sleeps. Twice a day she is rubbed with almond soap, mixed with turmeric, &c. All this time she is never allowed to bathe; She is fed on sweetmeats, and not allowed to touch acids, or vinegar, &c: even pān is almost denied; but I fancy, without it an Asiatic lady would fret herself to death. And in this horrible state, a girl is kept during all the gaiety of the wedding; never allowed to move; to make her skin soft and yellow, and to render her sweet-tempered, I suppose, by feeding her with lumps of sugar!

As soon as the bridegroom's party were gone, Colonel Gardner requested me to go in procession, with his pretty grand-daughter, Alaida (the Morning Star), to the Prince's tents, to escort the dress of the bridegroom, sent as a present by the bride. We went accordingly in full procession, as described before, taking back the oily mixture. Mulka Begam received us at the Prince's tent; he was placed on a silver footstool; Mulka took off his upper dress, and rubbed his face and arms with the mixture; she then arrayed him in a dress of yellow and orange muslin, a red turban, and red silk pajamas, in which attire he looked very handsome.

Before him sat three women, the Domnee, playing and singing bridal songs; I saw the Prince turn very red; he looked at the women, and said something in a low tone to Mulka Begam, who answered,—"The mem sāhiba knows they are singing gālee (abuse); but she does not understand Hindostanee sufficiently to comprehend their songs." The language of the songs is complete slang. Yellow powder, mixed with water, was then thrown in frolic at all the people; I made my sālamm?], quitted the tent, and finding a gentleman in waiting ready to drive me back, returned to Colonel Gardner's, leaving the rest of the party to play and sing all night. Thus ended the first day of the ceremonies.

At the festival of the Hūlī, which is particularly dedicated to Krishn[)u], images of the deity are carried about on elephants, horses, in palkees, &c. The songs are exclusively in honour of