If a girl becomes with child by a member of the caste she is made over
to him without a marriage, or to the man to whom she was previously
betrothed if he is still willing to take her. Neither is she expelled
if the same event occurs with a man of any higher caste, but if he
be of lower caste she is thrown out. Marriages are usually arranged
by the parents but an adult girl may choose her own husband, and she
is then wedded to him with abbreviated rites so that her family may
avoid the disgrace of her entering his house like a widow or kept
woman. Formerly a Dhakar might marry his granddaughter, but this is
no longer done. When the signs of puberty first appear in a girl she
is secluded and must not see or be seen by any man. They think that
the souls of dead ancestors are reborn in children, and if a child
refuses to suck they ask which of their ancestors he is and what
he wants, or they offer it some present such as a silver bangle,
and if the child then takes to the breast they give away the bangle
to a Brahman. The sixth day after a child is born the paternal aunt
prepares lamp-black from a lamp fed with melted butter and rubs it
on the child's eyes and receives a small present.