St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-06-08

SvSAWAuko Az AAOASb oAS AAA~HS~
tant affairs. A child is no sooner
born than the family begins looking
around for a suitable match, and to
study up some way OF exceling their
neighbors in the magnificence OF the
wedding. 1t is ruinous to the people.
as the only way they can raise the
money is to 60 to the mOney-lenders.
and once in their clutches there is no
escape. They can not pay. and the
creditor only allows the family barely
enough to subsist on in the most mis-
cradle way, so the whole family SUI
Iers. but. having done their best to
outshine their neighbors. they are sat
isfied. The English Government is
making great efforts to do away with
such weddings. and are succeeding q
little. but find it very hard to change
the customs of ages.
The one it was my good fortune to
attend was of different kind. TwOof
the richest and most prominent fami-
lies in Bombay were to be united. 90
there was no necessity Of economy.
The son and daughter were about fif-
teen and thirteen. The father of the
groom had a sort Of hall near the
house and temple. prObablyfor such pur-
poses, where, after the invitations
were sent out, for q week he and his
son received their friends. A band
played all the time. and Nautch girls
danced every afternoon and evening.
They only dance, or rather sway and
pose, one or two at a time. and 1t is
not an especially interesting perform
ance for a European. but the natives
consider them the finest thing possible.
No entertainment is complete without
them. and to give Nautch dance in
your honor is the greatest compliment
that can be paid you. We went one
evening to the Nautch dance. The
father and son sat there. and their
friends came and went. the bands play
ing, the girls dancing all the timc--as
last as one got tired another took her
place, and if she pleased especially
The guests threw her coins, etc. Each
quest, as he came in, paid his respects
to the hosts, and had a garland Of
flowers hung around his neck; then
betel-nut was given him to chew, if he
wished, and he sat and watched the
dancing until he was tired. When he
left he was given two cOcoanuts. ono
for the bride and one for the groom.
The cocoanut is the emblem of good
luck. II you are going on a journey,
your friends sends you cOcoanut as q
wish for pleasant trip.
The next afternoon we went to the
wedding and found the two bands Jay
ing and the yard full Of peoples The
distinguished guests had places on the
veranda- The Parsee gentleman who
took us was the most noted one. SO the
father and son came forward and knelt
before him. and were made handsome
presents of shawls. etc. After a little
the groom came out Of the temple, fol-
lowed by all of his female relations.
gorgeous in red, yellow and mauve.
with all their jewels on. The saree is
around them and covers their
head. only allowing the front view of
their face to be seen. The brilliant
colors, mingled with the white dresses
of the men, all with garlands Of flowers
around their necks, under the palm
trees, made a very Oriental picture.
He sat down in front Of US before
some ashes and cooking utensils. sym
bolical of the desolate hearth he was
The women and priests prayed
and chauted awhile in sing song tone.
after which a white horse, richly ca
parisoned. was brought, on which the
groom was placed. with his Young
sister behind him. He was dressed in
. cloth-of-gold dress. so stiff and heavy
that he could scarcely stand. with .
high conical hat covered with Jew
els After waiting awhile for an au-
epicious omen. the procession started.
First q band. then the distinguished
guests; we in full evening dress, they
In their white dresses. all OF us with
garlands OF towers around our necks,
and carrying bouquets and betel-nuts.
while the servants carried the cocoa.
nuts that had been given us: then the
groom. on horseback and all the fe-
male relations following; after them
the rest of the guests. and a band
bringing up the rear. In this manner
We matcned along the streets for about
half a mile un6l we came TO the brides
house.
i vas . beautiful sight the garden