The head of the caste is always a member of the Sonwani sept and is
known as Raja. It is his business to administer water in which gold has
been dipped (_sona-pani_) to offenders as a means of purification, and
from this the name of the sept is derived. The Raja has no deputy, and
officiates in all ceremonies of the caste; he receives no contribution
from the caste, but a double share of food and sweetmeats when they
are distributed. The other members of the Panch he is at liberty
to choose from any _got_ or sept he likes. When a man has been put
out of caste for a serious offence he has to give three feasts for
readmission. The first meal consists of a goat with rice and pulse,
and is eaten on the bank of a stream; on this occasion the head of the
offender is shaved clean and all the hair thrown into the stream. The
second meal is eaten in the yard of his house, and consists of cakes
fried in butter with rice and pulse. The offender is not allowed
to partake of either the first or second meal. On the third day the
Raja gives the offender gold-water, and he is then considered to be
purified and cooks food himself, which the caste-people eat with him
in his house. A man is not put out of caste when he is sent to jail,
as this is considered to be an order of the Government. A man keeping
a woman of another caste is expelled and not reinstated until he has
put her away, and even then it is said that they will consider his
character before taking him back. A man who gets maggots in a wound
may be readmitted to caste only during the months of Chait and Pus.