5. Nuptial ceremony

The marriage takes place at the boy's house, where two marriage-sheds

are made. It is noticeable that the bride on going to the bridegroom's

house to be married is accompanied only by her female relatives,

no man of her family being allowed to be with her. This is probably

a reminiscence of the old custom of marriage by capture, as in

former times she was carried off by force, the opposition of her

male relatives having been quelled. In memory of this the men still

do not countenance the wedding procession by their presence. The

bridal couple are made to sit down together on a mat, and from three

to seven pots of cold water are poured over them. About a week after

the wedding the couple go to a market with their friends, and after

walking round it they all sit down and drink liquor.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume 4 · 第 382 / 607 题