Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-07-23
INDIAN MATCHMAKING.
CONSUMATE TACT AND SKILL OF
THE HlNDOO GHATuck.

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 rs 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 scruples OF conscience.
Genealogy and pedigree are his speciality.
He can repeat eyerybol Us fathers grand
fathers, great-grandtather's names, and SO
on TO thirteenth generation; and he has
at his fingers ends ull 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 Ia II know
ledge of San>krlt, though on the first test
he breaks down. But it does not in the
least matter to him. He has stock OF
Sanskrit phrases and commonplace stored
up in his memory; and these he delivers
in so mastery fashion that the ordinary
folk cape at him with wonder.
NEGOTIATING A MARRIAGE.
There comes of a morning a Brahmin
ghatuck to the house of his patron, whose
sons marriage he is negotiating. He has
tall, thin face, with the lilac or caste
mark on his high forehead, large, round
eyes of calm, meditative cast, though
betraying in their corners an unusually
sly expression, finely turnel 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 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; "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
pomegranate; 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
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, Nishnoo-do
you think am joking with you. A man
like me, descended from Brahma himself,
never jokes. Satyam eva jayitte-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 a
lot Of things as her dowry-a whole house
hold Of things. What can you have
betters'
The conversation goes on in this style
antil the hestations of the parent are
overcome. The matchmaker, well satis-
fled with his performance, departs for the
house of the lady. There he repre- >cnts the
young man 10 be beautiful like kartic
(the god uf beauty; his manners are
those Of IA nUblvmau; he is tree 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
teri 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 a mass OF priceless ornaments
and jewelryy Then comes a difficulty on
the settlement of the last point; or the
mother of the girl grumbles at the boy not
having passed any examination as yet. Or
perhaps somebody has whispered 10 the
young mans mother that the young girls
nose is rather chubby. The CHA
tuck, well prepared to meet thes
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 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: il depends upon the sort of match
he makes and upon the quality and posi-
tion of the families he unites At mid
dle-class wedding he gets from t2 to e3,
besides presents; from rich families he
gets about Is, besides presents worth
about elO. Some matchmakers have been
known tu make fortunes and buy estates.
II II CHA, uck can secure an educated and
wellto-do Young man for poor common
looking grl he Is immensely paid for his
services by the parents of that girl. On
the contrary, if the bride or bridegroom
turns out 10 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 reward, with IA shower
of blows from the male members Uf the
family thrown In.
or late years female matchmakers are
taking the place of the male ones in some
of the lar e towns. Having free access To
the inner apartments of house-a privi-
lege the = male rivals can never expect To
enioy--they can reach the ladies, who
necessarily have great influence in all
marriages. Naturally sharper ia wit and
more gl.p OF tongue, their iines-c and sub
| tlety have been known to overcome all
! di l.u.ties where their mail competitors
hs We failed. -Hindoo Cor 1T. James Ga.
| ze,Ie
| social Gradations In England.
-.