Page:Wanderings of a Pilgrim Vol 1.djvu/533

 CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE BURĀT.

"THE NUPTIAL PROCESSION IS PROPORTIONED TO THE RANK OF THE BRIDEGROOM ."

The Bridegroom fights for his Bride—The grand Procession—Superstition of the Prince—Bridal Attire—The Bride's Consent—Signing the Contract—The Nose-ring—Dress of the Bride—The Prince enters the Zenāna—He beholds his Bride—He carries her off—Colonel Gardner's distress—Fanī Bhū'a—The Bride's Dower carried in procession with the newly-married couple to the Prince's Tents—A singular Custom—Pān.

1835, March 30th.—Colonel Gardner said to me, "The bridegroom will come to-night to carry away his bride; it is an old Tartar custom for the man to fight for his wife, and carry her away by force of arms; this is still retained. I shall have the doors of the gateway barred at the entrance; and the soldiers on the prince's arrival, after refusing to admit him, will at length allow him to enter, if he give them some gold mohurs. We, of the bride's party, are not to join in the procession, but you may go out on an elephant provided you put no gay trappings upon him; and you can look on and say, 'What a paltry procession, not half as fine as ours last night!' this is the custom (dastūr). I will go in my tanjan and stand at one side." This was the grand day of all: the prince and his party came at night; the village through which they passed was illuminated, as well as the road and the triumphal arches; they were accompanied by bands of music and flags innumerable; at every halt