Part 24 (2/2)

[4] _Sachaq_, the fruits and other gifts carried in procession in earthen pots ornamented with various devices.--Jaffur Shurreef, _Qanoon-e-Islam_, 73.

[5] _Menhdi_.

[6] _Barat, barat_: meaning 'bridegroom's procession'.

[7] Among the Khojas of West India a person from the lodge to which the parties belong recites the names of the Panjtan-i-pak, the five holy ones--Muhammad, 'Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, Husain--with the invocation: 'I begin the wedding of ---- with ----, to wed as did Fatimah, the bright-faced Lady (on whom be peace!) with the Lord and Leader, the Receiver of the Testament of the Chosen and Pure, the Lord 'Ali, the son of Abu-Talib.'--_Bombay Gazetteer_, ix, part ii, 45.

[8] _Pandan_.

[9] _Chilamchi_.

[10] _Lagan_.

[11] _Surahi_.

[12] _Rikab_, 'a cup'; _patthari_, 'made of stone'. China dishes are also supposed to betray poison: see J. Fryer, _A New Account of East India and Persia_ (Hakluyt Society's edition), i. 87.

[13] _Dulhin_.

[14] _Dulha_.

[15] _Menhdi_: the henna plant, _Lawsonia alba_.

[16] _Atishbazi_, fire-play.

[17] _Abrak_, talc.

[18] _Chaman_, a flower-bed.

[19] _Anna_.

[20] Otto, _'itr_ of roses.

[21] 'The dress of the bridegroom consisted entirely of cloth of gold; and across his forehead was bound a sort of fillet made of an embroidery of pearls, from which, long strings of gold hung down all over his face to his saddle-bow; and to his mouth he kept a red silk handkerchief closely pressed to prevent devils entering his mouth.'--Mrs. F. Parks, _Wanderings of a Pilgrim_, i. 438 f. This fillet is called _sihra_, and it is intended to avert the influence of the Evil Eye and of demons.

[22] The officiating Mulla or Qazi lifts the bridegroom's veil, makes him gargle his throat three times with water, and seating him facing Mecca, requires him to repeat a prayer to Allah for forgiveness (_istighfarullah_); the four Qul, or chapters of the _Koran_ commencing with the word _qul_, 'say' (cix, cxii, cxiii, cxiv); the Kalima or Creed: 'There is no deity but Allah: Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah'; the Articles of Belief (_Sifat-i-iman_) in Allah, his Angels, the Scriptures, the Prophets, the Resurrection, and Day of Judgement. His absolute decree and predestination of Good and Evil; the Prayer of Obedience, said standing (_du'a'l-qunut_). If he be illiterate, the meaning of all these should be explained to him.--Jafnir Shurreef, _Qanoon-e-Islam_, 86.

[23] Mulla.

[24] The naarah is a cord of many threads dyed red and yellow; the moosul the heavy beam in use where rice is to be cleansed from the husks. The custom is altogether of Hindoo origin. [_Author_.] [When the condiment (_ubtan_), made of the flour of gram, mixed with oil and perfumes, which is rubbed on the bride and bridegroom, is being ground, the handle of the hand-mill is smeared with sandalwood paste, powder of a kind of nut ( _Vangueira spinosa_), and some betel leaves; betel-nuts wrapped in a piece of new red cloth are tied to it. Then seven women, whose husbands are living, sit down to grind the condiment. Some raw rice is put in a red cloth, and with a parcel of betel-leaf is tied to the mill-handle with a thread (_nara_). Women pretend to beat it, and sing a marriage song. The rite is a form of fertility magic. The handle of the mill here represents the rice-pounder (_musal_) in the rite described in the text.--_Bombay Gazetteer_, ix, part i, 101; part ii, 163 f.[7]]

LETTER XV

On the birth and management of children in Hindoostaun.--Increase of joy on the birth of a Son.--Preference generally shown to male children.--Treatment of Infants.--Day of Purification.--Offerings presented on this occasion to the child.--The anniversary of the birthday celebrated.--Visit of the father to the Durgah.--Pastimes of boys.--Kites.--Pigeons.--The Mhogdhur.--Sword-exercise.--The Bow and Arrows.--The Pellet-bow.--Crows.--Sports of Native gentlemen.--c.o.c.k-fighting.--Remarks upon horses, elephants, tigers, and leopards.--Pigeon-shooting.--Birds released from captivity on particular occasions.--Reasons for the extension of the royal clemency in Native Courts.--Influence of the Prime Minister in the administration of justice.

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