The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-08-28
The 1illon lGribn',e.
INDIAN MATCHMAKING,
CONSULATE TACT AND SKILL OF
THE HlNDOO GHATUck.

"A Man OF apparent Learning. Compliant
Manners and Great Persuasive Powers
How IL Marriage Is Negotiated by the
Matrimonial Go Between.
The ghatuck, or matchmaker is gener-
ally a Br:him OF high orler--a man of ap-
parent le.'rnin-, compliant manners, and
Invariably IT great persuasive powers. His
disposition is as amiable as his occupation
is please t. His strength lies in the use of
the particular kind OF tact and skill neces-
sary TO Ill Intermediates, and he is not
much ected by scruples of conscience.
Genealogy and pedigree are his specially.
He ca epeat everyboc Us fathers, grand
fathers, great-grandfathers 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 Il know
ledge of Sanskrit, though on the first test
he breaks down. But it does not in the
least mat, Il to him. He has u stock OF
Sanskrit pr uses and comnlonplaces stored
up in his emory; and these he delivers
in SO ma' .Iy a fashion that the ordinary
folk CAPE at him with wonder.
NEGOTIATING a MARRIAGE.
There comes Of a morning 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, neditatiye cast, though
betraying in their corners an unusually
sly expression, finely turned eye brows,
an aquiline nose, and 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 Solicitations
the master OF the house asks the ghutuck
whether everything is all right, and how
he finds the girl; upon which the latter
answers in this style: "Yes, 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. Her
teeth are sparkling, like the seeds of a
pomeRranate; her arched, bright, black
eyes beat those of Kama (Hindoo Cupid;
her voice is sweet, like that of a cuckoo;
her gait is dignified and graceful, like
that of an elephant; and, as to her figure,
know nothing to compare it with. She
(Htndoo Mfnerva), and talks like Lakshmi
(the goddess of fortune), and will Ger
tainly bring bright fortune to any family
she may be connected with"
With a 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 I am joking with your A man
like me, descended from Brahma himself.
never jokes. Satyam eva jayate-truth is
ever victorious. Why, sir, you would not
md such q 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, we'll salts
ned 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 a nObleman; he is free from ull
vices; he studies day and night. In short,
he Ia. q precious gem-an ornament Of his
country.
SETTLEMENT OF THE LAST POINT.
To the questions whether the young
man has passed any university examina-
tons, 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 ut the boy not
having passed any examination us 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 u good
deal Of higgling on both sides, he manages
to bring the negotiations to successful
He is amply paid for his
though often lifelong curses Of
all the parties concerned form his chief re-
ward.
The remuneration of the ghatuck is not
fixed: 1t depends upon the sort OF match
he makes and upon the quality and posi-
ton of the families he unites. At mid
de class wedding he gets from e.. to 20,
besides presents; from rich families he
gets about IS, besides presents worth
about El0. Some matchmakers have been
known to make fortunes and buy estates.
II ghatuck can secure an educated and
young man for u poor, common
looking girl he is immensely paid for his
Bervices by the parents Of that girl On
the contrary, If the bride Or bridegroom
Turns out to he the reverse of what she
Dr. he was represented, the ghatuck has
only the few rupees he got before the
for all his reward, with a shower
of blows from the male members of the
family thrown in.