Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-08-26
INDIAN MATCh-MAKERS

How They NIanago the Details Of Their
= Delicate Business Transactions. -
It is well known that amongst the
Hindoos the feeliugs of the young man
or the young girl are seldom consulted
in matrimonial matters. The usual
course is for the parents, when they
Judge that their son or daughter has
arrived at a manageable age. to engage
the services Of professional match
maker.
The Ghatuck, or matchmaker. u
generally Brahmin of high order-a
man of apparent learning. compliant
manners and invariably of great per-
suasive powers. His disposition is as
amiable as his occupation is pleasant.
His strength lies in the use of the par
ticular kind of tact and skill necessary
for all Intermediates, and he is not much
affected by scruples Of conscience. &C.
nealogy and pedigree are his specially.
He can repeat every body's faith
er's, grandfather great-grandfathers
names, and so on to the thirteenth gen.
eratlon; and he has at his fingers ends
all about their caste. gotra, or tribe,
their family and position, and the hum
dred other details about which the
Hindoos arc very particular.
There comes of morning our
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, me2itative cast, though betray-
ing in their corners an unusually sly
expression, finely turned eyebrows, an
aquiline. nose and beardless chin.
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 every thing 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. Her teeth are sparkling like
the seeds OF pomegranate; her
arched, bright black eyes beat those of
Kamc Nindoo Cupid); her voice is
sweet like that of the cuckoo; her gait
is dignified and graceful like that OF an
elephant; and as to her figure, know
of nothing to compare it with. She is
intelligent like the goddess Saraswati
(Hindoo Minerva), and talks like
Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune), and
Will certainly bring fortune TO any
family"
The conversation goes on IN this
style until the hesitations of the parent
are overcome. The matchmaker, well
satisfied with his performance, departs
for the house of the lady. There he
represents the young man to be beau
tiful like Kartic (the god of beauty;
his manners are those of a nobleman;
he is free from all vices; he studies day
and night. In short. he is precious
gem-an ornament of his country. To
the questions, whether the young man
has passed any university examina-
ton, whether he holds any scholarship
and what degree he has taken. the
Ghatuck replies: He has not passed
any examination yet; but what does
that matter? Bless his dear soul, he
will pass all his examinations in three
years; and then his parents age so rich,
ard have promised to give sech a mass
nfipriceless ornaments and jewelry!'-
HGrpcr'S Bazaar.