STRANGE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 6 (Supplement)

STRANGE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.

The low castes of Southern India are divided into innumerable clans and elapses, each differing from the other in many ways; and some of their marriage customs, eays the Madras Mail, are interesting from their novelty, as well as from their connection with ancient manners and customs. The Anappan and Kappiliyan are two allied castes, to be found chiefly in the districts of Madura and Tinnivelly. The right of a man to marry his sister's or aunt's daughter is so strong that small boys are frequently married to adult women. At their weddings the right hands of the bride and bridegroom are tied together, and a small quantity of milk is poured over them. Tho Bavuri, a low class of basket-makers, are found in Qanjam. Their marriages are either infant or adult, and the chief ceremony is tying some betel and nuts in the cloths of the bridal pair, the bride doing it for the bridegroom, and ho returning the compliment. Rice is also freely thrown over the shoulders of the bride and bridegroom, who also adorns his bride with bangles: The Boyas are tho great Shikari tribe of tho Dekkan districts. Their marriage ceremonies are very quaint. Both infant and adult marriages are allowed. It is necessary that the two front poets of the mamage pandal should have twelve twigs of the " pala" tree tied to them. The intending couple have to fetch a basket of mud from a neighbouring ant-hill, and place it beneath these " pala" twigs. The binding part of the ceremony consists in the woman taking a cheroot from the mouth of the bridegroom,, or eating in the same dish with him. In some cases seeds are thrown by the bridegroom into the ant-hill mud, in token of long life and a vigorous progeny. When a bachelor wishes to marry a widow he has first to many a, " shahda" tree, which tree is afterwards cut down, and he is thus converted into a widower, and can then marry the widow of his choice.

The Kannadians are a Canarese caste of shepherds and cattle-breeders. They are scattered all over Southern India, and sell milk and butter. At their weddings five women are selected, who are required to bathe as each of the important ceremonies of the marriage is performed. These women alone are allowed to cook for or touch the happy couple. Weddings last eight days, during which time the bride and bridegroom must not sit on anything but woollen blankets. A widow may marry again, but she must only wed a widower." The Ruvulu are temple • pervante, and have the privilege of blowing the conch at funeral* and. in the temples. When a man .ill-treats and boats his wife the Panchayat make him sit under one oi the large coops with which fish are caught, and his wife sits on top of it.' Five' pots of water are then poured over the pair of them, in imitation of the caste custom of pouring five pots of water over a dead body before it is taken to the burning ground. The wife then throws away a ladle and breaks a cooking pot, just as she would have done if her husband had really died, and further breaks her bangles and tears off her necklace, just as she would have done if she had been really a widow. She may then go to her parents' home, and is free to marry again.