Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-08

eHdDleu 10 20 III Sedrcn oI relatlOnS, resulting
not far from the city. The son, with his i'll
gotten cash, will probably manage to live mis-
erably somewhere, till he is provided with quar-
not be far distant.-Bu6alo Courier, Oct. 81.
Hmdoo Wedding-A Recollection Of 1905.
1t is well known in England that the Hin
docs marry or are betrothed, very young; and,
also, that the fair sex is so confined to the
house, that the young women, after they are
ten or twelve years OF age, see no male per-
sons, not even their own brothers. The houses
Of wealthy persons are all constructed so that
they have no windows that look into the streets,
but are built in squares, the windows looking
into the interior. The only entrance is by one
large gate, where the dool1oan or porter sits
night and day; for he eats, drinks and sleeps
inside the gate; and when he has occasion to
60 to the river to battle, and say his prayers
which he does regularly every morning-he is
relieved by a trustworthy person, so that no
one can 60 in or out without the fact being
known.
All Europeans Of any note also keep door
wan, who, when any stranger goes into the
house, calls after him: "Bhdr Ca-Sahib, iah,
chubber, di joe;" that is, to inform the servants
of the house that strange gentleman has
gone in, and to let the master know. By this
you will see the place is strictly guarded; and
it is very difficult to get in, except at the Durga
Poojah, and other great holidays, when three
sides of the house are opened to strangers, and
the women of the family removed to the zenana,
or the side of the square opposite the gate, the
windows of which are generally glazed with
ground glass, that gives light, but cannot be
seen through. The great baboos have their
children betrothed when very young, and, as
they are never allowed to see strangers, the
| father looks out for suitable matches for them;
| the mothers are out of the question, for they
see no persons but their husbands or servants.
The fathers, when they have sons or daugh-
tiers come to the age Of betrothal, which is, gen.
orally, when the boy is twelve, and the girl
| eight or nine look out for match for them in
some respectable family of their oacn caste, and
who can likewise give a suitable portion with
| their children.
There are also female agents, or match-ma-
| kers, who go about under pretense of selling
| fine dresses, clothing, or trinkets, and who make
profitable trade in looking out for good look
ing girls, and recommending them to the mo-
theirs who have sons come Of age. After they
have made an eligible match, the fathers make
a bargain for the sum that each is to give to
the children to set up housekeeping, and fix
the time when the wedding is to take place.
| To make the arrangement sure, a native cakeel
or lawyer, is employed to draw up the deed,
with penalty in case Of failure. When the
wedding is to take place-that is, when the
young people are to live together, which is,
generally, when the boy is eighteen, and the
girl fourteen-all their male relations and ac
quaintances are told there will be q great ta-
! ndssd,S or procession at the wedding, and they
are invited to attend. If the boys father is
rich, he will spend a great deal of money on
| this fortunate occasion.
/ remember, in 1906, q very rich baboo, with
whom / had frequent dealings, and who made
all his money by trading with Europeans, hav.
ing grand tamassa at his sons wedding
which lasted three days. There was gor.
geous procession through the streets of Cal
cutta during that time, at whichpo less than
one thousand hired persons assembled and
besides other devices, there was large noun
tain made of bamboos and paper, on which
were placed numbers of trees and bushes, with
wild animals and birds, from the elephant and
| tiger to the squirrel and mouse, and from the
cassowary (the Indian ostrich) TO the wren
all made of the same material, and painted to
the life. This was carried through the streets
on the heads of probably not less than hun.
dred men, curtain hanging down to prevent
the bearers from being seen. A guard Of a
hundred men, in uniform, went before, and the
same number followed, all with imitation
muskets on their shoulders, covered with gun
cases Of red and yellow cloth, and inter.
mixed with numerous bands Of drums tom
toms) and other instruments. The bridegroom,
in his palkee, finely dressed in GOLDEN
broidered muslin, carried by four men, and
the girl in her dowlah, closely covered up with
cloth, followed close in the rear, guarded on
each side by number Of men dressed as
sepoys. think the procession was quarter
of mile long in the narrow streets, where the
black population live. After much show and
parade Of this kind for three days, it was init
mated when the marriage ceremony was TO
take place; and as there is always a great
deal Of money given away among the poor at
this time, there is always great attendance Of
such wedding guests. The marriage cere-
mony is performed in the square Of the fathers
house by a Brahmin Of high caste, who pro-
nounces an elaborate harrangue on the good
qualities Of the bridegroom's and brides
father; then on those Of the bride and bride
groom themselves; and then prayer that
they may prosper, multiply, and replenisb the
earth, there being great mourning in the house
if there are no children even in the first year.
The time has now come when the bridegroom
first sees his bride. They having been placed
in their palkees under the zenana--that side
Of the square where none Of the company are
the bride is closely covered up in her dowlah,
and the Brahmin, holding q looking-glass in
his hand, gently opens the cloth, and holding
the mirror in front Of the bride, desires the
bridegroom to look in il, and say whether he is
satisfied to take this lady for his wife. II he
says yes, then the ceremony goes on, and is
concluded with grand invocation to the gods,
ending with great huzza, and mighty drum.
ming Of the tom-toms. During the noise, there
is generally a scramble in the streets for
money which is scattered to the poor. The
company then dispense; the square is searched
by the doorwans; the door is locked, and the
{ next day that part Of the town is as quiet as il
nothing had happened. But iE on the fateful
question being put, the bridegroom says no
thing which rarely occurs-then there is a
stop to the whole proceedings, the company is
dismissed and the girl taken home to her
father, who returns the duplicate of the mar.
rage deed. / have only to add, that It is not
easy for a stranger TO get in to see one Of these