COURTSHIP, BETROTHAL, AND MARRIAGE 265
present. Thereat the friends of the bridegroom also
give betel to the friends of the bride and bear witness
as aforesaid, and they take to be witnesses them that
be present. When the time for the marriage is come,
then they proceed, with no long delay, to the celebration
of their nuptials. I say " when the time for the mar-
riage is come," for these heathen do not marry through-
out the entire year, but only in the months of February,
May, June, October, and in the beginning of Novem-
ber, on certain good days and hours, in the observance
whereof they are very nice.
Whensoever the appointed time is come for the mar-
riage to be completed, then prepare they the homam
(soma) fire from the wood of a tree which in their
tongue is hight rawasittou and is full holy. This fire
is for a witness of the wedlock which is here begun,
and thereover the Bramin speaketh a prayer. There-
after the bridegroom thrice taketh his hands full of
rice and casteth it over the head of his bride, and so
also doth the bride to the bridegroom. Then the father
of the bride taketh some garments, jewels, and the
like, according to his ability, and adorneth the bride
therewith; and likewise doth he also to the bridegroom.
Then washeth he the bridegroom's feet, and the bride's
mother poureth water over them. Thereafter the father
taketh the hand of his daughter in his hand and poureth
water therein and some gold; and if that he be rich,
he holdeth much more in his hand, and thus he giveth
his daughter's hand over to the bridegroom in the name
of God, and saith: " I have no more to do with thee;
