At a wedding the couple walk seven times round the sacred post, which
must be of wood of the mahua [309] tree, and on its conclusion the post
is taken to a river or stream and consigned to the water. The Bhatras,
like the Gonds, no doubt revere this tree because their intoxicating
liquor is made from its flowers. The couple wear marriage crowns
made from the leaves of the date palm and exchange these. A little
turmeric and flour are mixed with water in a plate, and the bride,
taking the bridegroom's right hand, dips it into the coloured paste
and strikes it against the wall. The action is repeated five times,
and then the bridegroom does the same with the bride's hand. By this
rite the couple pledge each other for their mutual behaviour during
married life. From the custom of making an impression of the hand
on a wall in token of a vow may have arisen that of clasping hands
as a symbol of a bargain assented to, and hence of shaking hands,
by persons who meet, as a pledge of amity and the absence of hostile
intentions. Usually the hand is covered with red ochre, which is
probably a substitute for blood; and the impression of the hand is made
on the wall of a temple in token of a vow. This may be a survival of
the covenant made by the parties dipping their hands in the blood of
the sacrifice and laying them on the god. A pit about a foot deep is
dug close to the marriage-shed, and filled with mud or wet earth. The
bride conceals a nut in the mud and the bridegroom has to find it,
and the hiding and finding are repeated by both parties. This rite may
have the signification of looking for children. The remainder of the
day is spent in eating, drinking and dancing. On the way home after
the wedding the bridegroom has to shoot a deer, the animal being
represented by a branch of a tree thrown across the path by one of
the party. But if a real deer happens by any chance to come by he has
to shoot this. The bride goes up to the real or sham deer and pulls
out the arrow, and presents her husband with water and a tooth-stick,
after which he takes her in his arms and they dance home together. On
arrival at the house the bridegroom's maternal uncle or his son lies
down before the door covering himself with a blanket. He is asked
what he wants, and says he will have the daughter of the bridegroom
to wife. The bridegroom promises to give a daughter if he has one,
and if he has a son to give him for a friend. The tribe consider that
a man has a right to marry the daughter of his maternal uncle, and
formerly if the girl was refused by her parents he abducted her and
married her forcibly. The bride remains at her husband's house for a
few days and then goes home, and before she finally takes up her abode
with him the _gauna_ or going-away ceremony must be performed. The
hands of the bride and bridegroom are tied together, and an arrow is
held upright on them and some oil poured over it. The foreheads of
the couple are marked with turmeric and rice, this rite being known
as _tika_ or anointing, and presents are given to the bride's family.