The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-30
INDIAN MATCHMAKING
CONSULATE TACT AND SKILL OF
THE HINOOO GHATUCK.

a Man of Apparent Learning. Compliant
Manners and Great Persuasive Powers
How a Marriage Is Negotiated by the
Matrimonial GO-Between.
The ghatuck, or matchmaker, is gener-
ally Brahim Of high order-a man Of ap-
parent learning, compliant manners, and
invariably Of great persuasive powers. His
disposition is as amiable as his occupation
is pleasant His strength lies in the use Of
the particular kind of tact and skill neces-
sary for all Intermediates, and he is not
much affected by scruple5 Of conscience.
Genealogy and pedigree are his specially
He can repeat eYeryboc US fathers, grand
fathers, great-grandfather's names, and so
on to thirteenth generation; and he has
at his fingers ends all about their caste,
gotra or tribe, their quality and position,
and the hundred other details about which
the Hindoos are very particular. The
ghatuck has great pretensions to a know
ledge of SanskriJ, though on the first test
he breaks down. But it does not in the
least matter TO him. He has a stock OF
Sanskrit phrases and commonplace stored
up in his memory; and these ne delivers
in so mastery a fashion that the ordinary
folk cape at him with wonder.
NEGOTIATING A MARRIAGE.
There comes of morning a Brahmin
ghatuck to the house of his patron, whose
sons marriage he is negotiating. He has
a tall, thin face, with the lilac or caste
mark on his high forehead, large, round
eyes Of a calm, meditative cast, though
betraying in their corners an unusually
sly expression, finely turned eye brOws,
an aquiline nose, and a beardless chin
His placid countenance has a certain
charm, and his look inspires respect for
his talents and confidence in his abilities
After the usual exchange OF salutationS
the master of the house asks the ghatuck
whether everything is all right, and how
he finds the girl; upon which the latter
answers in this style: Eyes, sir, every
thing is all right The girl is beautiful as
the full moon; even the moon has spots,
but she is spotless and peerless. Hey
teeth are sparkling, like the seeds of a
pOmegranate; her arched. bright, black
eyes beat those of Kama (Hindoo Cupid;
her voice is sweet, like that of a cuckoo;
ner gait is dignified and graceful, like
that of an elephant; and, as to her figure,
know nothing to compare it with. She
is intelligent, like the goddess Saraswati
(HindOO Minerva), and talks like Lakshmi
(the goddess of fortune), and will GER
tainly bring bright fortune to any family
she may be connected with"
With twinkle in his eye, his patron
interrupts him with the question whether
the girl really is handsome and intelligent
then the ghatuck bursts forth: "Ram,
Durga, Hari, silva, Brahma, Vishnoo-do
you think am joking with you? A man
like me, descended from Brahma himself,
never jokes. Satyam eva jayate-truth is
ever victorious. Why, sir, you would not
find such perfect match for your noble
son in these three worlds. And then the
girls parents are willing to bestOw such
lot of things as her dowry-a whole house
hold of things. What can you have
better?"
The conversation goes on in this style
until the hesitations of the parent are
overcome. The matchmaker, well salts
fed with his performance, departs for the
house of the lady. There he represents the
young man to be beautiful like Kartic
(the god of beauty; his manners are
those of nobleman; he is free from all
vices; he studies day and night. In short,
he is precious gem-an ornament of his
country.
SETTLEMENT OF THE LAST POINT.
To the questions whether the young
man has passed any university eXamina-
tions, whether he holds any scholarship,
and what degree he has taken, the CHA
tuck replies: "He has not passed any ex
animation yet; but what does that mat
ter? Bless his dear soul, he will pass all
his examinations in three years; and then
his parents are so rich and have promised
to give such mass of priceless ornaments
and jewelry!" Then comes difficulty on
the settlement of the last point; or the
mother of the girl grumbles at the boy not
having PISSED any examination as yet. Or
perhaps somebody has whispered to the
young mans mother that the young girls
nose is rather chubby. The CHA
tuck, well prepared to meet these
difficulties, fits backward and for
ward; and after the fullest display
of his arts and powers, and a good
deal of higgling on both sides, he manages
to bring the negotiations to a successful
termination. He is amply paid for his
services though often lifelong curses of
all the parties concerned form his chief re-
ward.
The remuneration of the ghatuck is not
fixed: it depends upon the sort of match
he makes and upon the quality and posi-
ton of the families he unites. AT a mid
dle-class wedding he gets from 60 to e3,
besides presents; from rich families he
gets about 95, besides presents worth
about 210. Some matchmakers have been
known to make fortunes and buy estates.
If a ghatuck can secure an educated and
well-to-do young man for a poor, common
looking girl he is immensely paid for his
services by the parents of that girl. On
the contrary, if the bride or bridegroom
turns out to be the reverse of what she
or he was represented, the ghatuck has
only the few rupees he got before the
marriage for all his rev with a shower
of blows from the NAL bers of the
family thrown in.
OF late years female I....,.hmakers are
taking the place of the male ones in some
of the large towns. Having free access to
the inner apartments of a house-a privi-
lege their male rivals can never expect to
enjoy-they can reach the ladies, who
necessarily have a great influence in all
marriages. Naturally sharper in wit and
more glib of tongue, their finesse and sub
tlety have been known to overcome all
difficulties where their mail competitors
have failed.-Hindoo Cor. st. James Ga
zette
Social Gradations in England.
William H. Rideing, writing wittily of
gradations in England, AYERS: "The Occu-
pants of the softest cushions are treated