Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-09-02
THE ANTI-SLAVE cry BUGLE.

remember, in 1906, q very rich baboo, with
whom | had frequent dealings, and who made all
his money by trading with Europeans, having n
grand tamassa at his sons wedding, which tasted
three days. There was q gorgeous procession
through the streets of Calcutta during that time
at which not less than one thousand hired persons
assisted; and besides other devices, there was u
large mountain 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 cas-
sowary (thc Indian ostrich to the wrtn-all made
of the sarle material and painted to the life. This
was carried through the streets ON the heads Of
probably not less than a hundred men, a curtain
hanging down to prevent the bearers from being
seen. A guard of n hundred men in uniform went
before, and the same number followed, all with
imitation muskets on their shoulders, covered with
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
palkoe, finely dressed in gold-cmbroidcred musiins,
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 a number of men
dressed as sopoys. | think the procession was a
quarter of a mile long in the broad streets, and a
half a mile long in the narrow streets where the
black population live. After much show and pa
radc for three days, it was intimated when VIC
marriage ceremony was to take place and 40 there
is often a great deal of money given away among
the poor at this time, there Is always a great atten'
dance of such wedding-guests. The marriage GER
emony is performed in the square Of the fathers
house by n Brahmin of high caste, who pronounce.
an elaborate harrangue on the good qualities Of tho
bridcgroom's and brides father then on those o
the bride and bridegroom themselves and then {
prayer that they may prosper, multiply and replen
ish The earth, there being great mourning in thu
house if there are no children even in the first year
The time is now come when the bridegroom frs.
secs his bride. They have been placed in theil
palkees under the zenana-that side of the square
where none of the company arctic bride is closely
covered up in her dowlah, and the Brahmin, hold
ing a looking-glass in his hand, gently opens thu
cloth, aud, holding the mirror in front of the bride
desires the bridegroom to look in it, and say wheth
err he is satisfied to take this lady for his wife. |
he saws Yes, then the ceremony goes on, and il
concluded with n grand invocation to the gods, end
ing with a great huzza, and mighty drumming o.
the tom-toms. During the noise there is general
a scramble in the streets for money which is scat
tered to the poor. The company then dispense
the square is searched by the doorwans the dool
is locked and the next day that part of the town
is as quiet as if nothing had happened. But if, OF
!, the iatclul question being put, the bridegroom say
No-a thing which rarely eccurs-then there is
stop put 20 the whole proceedings the company i
dismissed, and the girl taken home to her father
who returns the duplicate of the marriage-decd
!, | have only to add that it is not easy for strange
+ to get in to see one Of these marriages. | happen
cd to have a Rrahmin Of high caste rs a writer il
my Office, who went with me on the occasion re
lelred to, and he had only to hold up his finger t
the doorwan to procure my admission. | threy
: the doorwan n rupee as l passed, which | knew wa
! expected. There were II number Of European
there, but as they were all dressed in white cloths
with hats, off they attracted little observation.