when it is not done. The law as to the separate property of a married woman is thus laid down by Manu:

What was given before the nuptial fire, what was given on the bridal procession, what was given in token of love, and what was received from a brother, a mother, or a father, are considered as the six-fold separate property of a married

woman.

What she received after marriage from the family of her husband, and what her affectionate lord may have given her shall be inherited, even if she die in his life time, by her children. (IX. 194, 195.)

It may perhaps serve a good purpose if we here insert a quotation, going to show how wide spread is this evil of selling girls as brides; and also the healthy feeling that is being aroused with reference to it. The Kistna District Association, which is the local expression of the Indian National Congress, and which is also in some way connected with that body, held its third Conference at Bezwada on the 7th June 1894 and following days. About a hundred visitors and two hundred delegates attended from different parts of the District. The President was the Hon. Mr. N. Subbarao Pantulu, B.A., B.L., Member of the Legislative Council of the Government of Madras; and the delegates included Lawyers, Landholders, Hon. Magistrates, Merchants, Members of Local Boards, Municipal Councillors and others all representing the light and learning of the District. On the third day of the Conference, the following resolution was proposed by Mr. R. Venkataratnam Naidu, M.A. and seconded by Mr. S. Hanumantarao B.A., B.L. and Mr. K. Venkatappaiah, B.A., B.L. and carried with acclamation. I quote from the printed report issued by the Association :

:

XX. That this Conference instructs the Secretaries of the Kistna District Association to issue pamphlets pointing out the evils accruing from the sale of girls and excessive expenditure on marriage occasions.

The proposer of the resolution, in bringing forward the motion, spoke as follows:

"Gentlemen! The monstrous custom of selling girls needs no words of mine to make you try to root it out from our Society. I will give you one particular case which will show you the advisability of taking proper steps to remove the evil. A certain gentleman, in a certain village, married his daughter, 10 years old, to an old man of 81 and received Rs. 2,000 for the bargain. In due course, the girl matured, and the nuptial ceremony was performed. The girl was sent to her hated husband, much against her will. She escaped from the room in the dead of night and threw herself into a well. When the old man awoke in the morning, he missed his young wife, and, on search being made, her dead body was found floating in a well. There are several instances of this sort. In some cases, if the ill assorted pair be seen together the bride will appear as a daughter, or even a grand-daughter. The young brides become widows even in a week after their marriages. These evils are too apparent to me and I think you will enthusiastically carry this resolution."

That such cases as these are not only possible, but of comparative frequent occurrence, is a fact that calls for serious attention on the part of those who wish well to this country, and it is a most hopeful sign when such a body as the one above alluded to begins to take serious notice of the matter. If there are such cases that, perhaps, from some untoward circumstance, come to the light, one cannot but reflect upon the great number there must be that are never heard of, and of the consequent unrecorded, and unknown misery endured by our Indian sisters, even in the present day.

A case happened several years ago which will serve further to illustrate the crooked ways that are sometimes resorted to, for the sake of gain, in the matter of marriages. This was told me by a friend, who happened at the time, to be the Joint-Magistrate of Ongole in the Nellore district and before whom the case was tried. A certain Brahmin brought a charge of defamation against some of his fellow-castemen because they had excommunicated him, and had

widely published the fact throughout the country. The accused parties admitted the fact, but pleaded justification. The story told in court was as follows: This Brahmin had espied a certain Pariah girl, who could, he thought, be made useful to him; he concocted, therefore, and carried into effect the following plan. He purchased the girl from her father for a certain sum of money, and then took her across the border into the Nizam's country. There he dressed her up as a Brahmin girl, and taught her how to act the part of one. After this he took her to Hyderabad city, and palmed her off upon a wealthy Brahmin there, who married the girl, and paid a sum of money to the crafty knave. All went well for a time; but by and by the husband discovered the truth about his wife, and thereupon took her back to her father somewhere near Ongole. He, naturally, was very indignant at the trick that had been played upon him, and took pains to inform the Brahmins of the neighbourhood of what had been done. So gross a case as this could not be passed over, and therefore, after due enquiry, the delinquent was formally excommunicated. Not only had he associated himself with Pariahs, but he had caused a fellowcasteman to, unwittingly, render himself grossly impure. It was decided by the court that the facts justified the action taken by the accused and the case was dismissed. The wretched cheat could not be punished by the court for his villainy, as his offence was committed across the border, in Hyderabad territory, and so out of the jurisdiction of British courts of justice.

To return, however, to the more immediate subject of this chapter. In the event of a marriage being arranged between a young couple, and all preliminaries settled to the satisfaction of the parties concerned, a suitable day is fixed upon for the Prathanam, the formal engagement,' or betrothal. The day fixed upon must be a lucky one, and it is not settled without consulting an Astrologer or the Purōhita. At the pre-arranged time, the father of the boy with a friend or two, not the boy himself, proceeds to the

house of the girl's father, who calls together a few friends, and his Purohita. It is also the proper thing to have musicians at this entertainment. The boy's father then produces certain presents he has brought for the girl, such as jewels, and cloths, and a ring. These things are handed over to the girl in the presence of them all, and she is arrayed in all the finery. The ring, which is of a peculiar shape, and which is carefully kept all through life, is put on the third or ring finger, and the elders present are called upon to bless the girl which they do saying, " may you like Lakshmi be happy and prosperous.' During the giving of the present, the Purohita says several mantrams of which the following specimen is given :

सुमंगलोरियं वधूरिमां समेत पश्यत ।

सौभाग्यमस्यै दत्वां याथास्तं विपरेतन ||

Draw near and behold this damsel, may she become a happy wife.

Having bestowed upon her prosperity, depart and cherish her in your heart.

At the close of the ceremony, bētel (tāmbūlam) is distributed to the guests, and rose water is sprinkled over them; after this, when with the aid of the astrologer, a suitable day for the marriage has been fixed, the friends depart and the betrothal is complete. It will have been gathered from the above quoted instances, that like an 'engagement' amongst Europeans, this Prathanam is not necessarily a binding ceremony; that is, it is possible, in the event of any obstacle arising, for this betrothal to be broken. Having thus dilated at some length upon the necessary preliminaries, we shall reserve the details of the marriage ceremonies, and things connected therewith, for another chapter.

CHAPTER IX.

HINDU MARRIAGES.-(Continued.)

विवाह. (vivāha.)

In whatever family the husband is contented with his wife, and the wife with her husband, in that house will fortune be assuredly permanent. (Manu III. 60).

In this chapter we purpose giving some idea of the complicated and prolonged ceremonial connected with the actual performance of a marriage. It astonishes a stranger, who may not know how fond the oriental mind is of such things, to observe how entirely, at such seasons, the Hindus give themselves up to the occasion. No thought of penalties, or any possible consequences seem strong enough to keep any one back, if there should happen to be a marriage going on in which he may directly or indirectly have a part, even if only that of an invited guest. There seems a positive fascination in the prospect of all these festivities; and, therefore, with or without leave, and at any risk, the ordinary Hindu will make it a point of duty or pleasure and inclination, as the case may be, to be present at a wedding.

The time chosen for the actual performance of the marriage should be in one of the five months beginning from February. It is not that marriages cannot be performed at other times during the year, but this is considered the most propitious. It is probable that this idea took its rise from convenience, seeing that during the period in question there is little agricultural labour to be done; and also, the crops having been harvested, money is in hand for the expenses that must be incurred. At the time fixed upon, the bride's father has his house cleaned up and decorated, and a pandal or large open booth is erected in front and at the back of the house to accommodate the guests