INDIA'S BABY BRIDES.
STRANGE WEDDING SCENES. Fotm HnNDiiß© weddinp were celebrated simultaneously recently at f Surat, Ind;a> among members of tho Jjesrai: JEunbi caste. '.-■ None of the brides was over 12 years of age, the majority being from one to years old, the bridegrooms varied from -three to nine. Most of the contracting .parties sat or Say on the laps of their parents during .the ceremony and were given sweets to ketsp them quiet. The caste only celebrates weddings: every 10 or 12 years. Colonel Duncan G. Pitcher, who represents tho India Office on the Committee o£ Management of the Imperial Institute, ■South Kensington, has given interesting facts concerning the Lewa Kunbi caste and their l remarkable marrisige customs. " It is quite a common thing," he said, " for the cliildron of the caste to be married when they are only four, five, Or six years of age, but marriages at an earlier age than four are exceptional.
Married Again at Age oS Tea. i ; "These baby brides, of counse, do not I join their husnands when they are mari ried. They wait until thoy reach the ■age of 10 or 11, when there is a second | marriage. Should a baby bride's husband I die before she reaches the age for the I second marriage she becomes a widow, |.and has to remain so all her life. In ■ such cases the widow at once loses caste. Her ornaments are taken off her and she ! becomes a sort of outcast, hardly treated, Hooked down upon and generally made a | household drudge. The husband, on tho' \ other hand, sliould his'baby bride die bei fore the second marriage, may marry, | again. In fact, he is expected to do so -within a few months of the death of the | bride. If he does not marry again within : a few months ho loses caste. His fellows refuse to smoke or drink with him. One : iof my assistants, a native, wanted- to ! marry two raontlis after tho loss of his i child wife. When I remonstrated with 'him he said: ' Unless I remarry I shall !be put out of caste,' He was obliged to |do it. The Kunbi casta ia an agricultural ! one, living in the Bombay Presidency. : | The caste is one of a low order of intelligence." - / '■■'.-
INDIA'S BABY BRIDES.
New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15269, 5 April 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)
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