File:Natives of northern India (1907) (14578652177).jpg

Identifier: nativesofnorther00croo (find matches)
Title: Natives of northern India
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Crooke, William, 1848-1923
Subjects: Ethnology -- India India -- Social conditions India -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : A. Constable and Company, ltd.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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amboos, withposts made from the tribal sacred tree. The first poleis planted by the Baiga, or medicine-man, Brahmanshaving no place in the rite except when in the higherfamilies they are consulted to fix an auspicious time.The husband of the boys sister acts as best man, liftshim out of his litter, and provides him with a specialamulet against the Evil Eye. Meanwhile the tribalpriest makes in the courtyard a sacred square with linesof barley-flour, thus protecting it from evil magic, andin the centre of this the brides father solemnly plantsa spear. The best man escorts the boy into this enclo-sure, waving a fan to scare the spirits which may behovering about his head. Here the female relations ofthe bride bar his progress, and will not admit him untilthey receive a present. The bride is then brought out from an inner room,and she and the bridegroom sit facing the east oncoarse mats made of leaves of the Sal (Shorea robustd),which is held sacred by the tribe. The best man knots No. 24
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< THE MARRIAGE RITES 211 together the garments of the pair, enclosing in the knota copper coin and a piece of betel-nut, while the tribalpriest makes the pair move slowly round the spear fivetimes, following the course of the sun, the bridegroomwalking in advance of the bride, who rests her handson his shoulders. Then comes the giving away of thebride, which is done by her father, and the gift isaccepted by the father of the boy. They are thenseated on mats, spirits are poured into the cups of each,and these they interchange and taste. The mother orgrandmother of the bride washes the feet of the pair,and marks their foreheads with a mixture of curds andrice, after which the bridegroom smears the nose, fore-head, and hair-parting of the girl with vermilion. Thisis the binding portion of the rite, after which they eatout of the same dish. Next day a feast is provided for the kinsmen. Butthe bridegroom and his best man refuse to share in ituntil they receive a present. After this the

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