The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-09
CURIOUS MARRIA IF CEREMONl-
 AIS


 A writer CsB. B.'D in the Pioneer Mail gives a description of the quaint marriage ceremonials of South Indian Romish Christian sect known as the Cochikars Literally, Cochin people,. They belong almost exclusively to Co., chin, Travancore and Malabar and like most Indian communities are home staying. They are the descendants of Malayali Hindus who were converted to Romansm in the fourteenth century. Conversions from among the low castss of Hindus still continue to bring re- cruits to the fold. Most of these Coch- ikars are artisans by profession, car pentry being most popular. and St. Jo- seph is the patron saint of the class. The men are slightly built and as rule well featured The women are comedy, like all the higher native races of the Malabar littoral, with soft, dark. dreamy eyes, and the most luxur ant raven tresses, that almost hang down to the ground. A white jacket, very slightly decollete, and white or red cloth wrapped round several times, and pieturesquely tucked away at the waist behind, go to make up the usual attire or the women.
 The Cochikars marry their girls at 8 very early age, often before the years of puberty. Their congugal customs are picturesque if singular, and are of much interest to the foreigner, inas- much as they represent quaint blend ing of Hindu, European and Biblical observances. the Hindu tint predomina- ting for obvious reasons. A good deal has to be gone through before Coch- ikara youth and maid can be welded. The parents of the former having first privately hit upon desirable girl, and ascertained the success of their object, visit the latter's parents, in company with two mutual friends and elders; betel is partaken of and the mission re- vealed. The day of the nuptials hav- ing been fixed, the two fathers shake hands over the compact, and certain conditions of the marriage are settled. If either party thereafter fail in their promise, they are amerced in fine, which goes to the church. The nature of the streedanom, or dowry, is also arranged.
 In due course the wedding comes off, Monday or Wednesday being chosen as suspicious. A week previous friends are visited and cordially invited to at tend the ceremony and partake of "a chew of betel' On the Saturday pre- cedng the wedding the bride -eect is bathed at well by her elders, while his elders perform on the groom the im- portant ceremony of channon chertal. He is gravely deposited in a chair and wrapped up in a new cloth. In front of him lighted brass lamp is suspended An old barber comes and slaves the youth, and receives for the work the cloth worn by the bridegroom, and. in addition, a measure of rice some green plantains, a coaoanut, some curry stuff and little coin (panom, equal to 5d) Having done with the barber, the groom. with beat of tom-tom and cym- bals, is conducted to the well-side, where his father and the elders of the community anoint him with oil and give him a copious bath. A gold chain is then thrown round his neck, and he is brought home, where a grand dinner is served. The next day-Sunday-th plighted lovers perform their religious duties in church.
 ! On the wedding-day the groom and his friends start first for church, with tom-toms playing. canopied under large silk professional umbrella, and accompanied by bearers of large fans. The bride and her party follow a while later. The ceremonial in church is really peculiar. The priest, having asked the contracting parties if they consent to wed one another, and having
 
 the witnesses and bids them bear in mind what they have heard, The groom next ties a tali Ca little gold pendant) round his brides neck, and thus the twain are made one. The