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NOVEMBER, 1896.)
THE DEVIL WORSHIP OF THE TULUVAS.
301
Then they said: - "Yes, yon may go now. We will come to you to-morrow evening."
So he returned to his bonse, and the next evening the priests came as they had promised. When they were yet at a distance from the house, Sayana Beidya saw them and said: “O uncle, the priests are coming."
At this, he took his kerchief and put it on his shoulder and ran out to meet them. Having met them at a short distance from the house, he brought them to it, and made them sit on a mat, and gave them betel-leaves and betel-nuts, and thus honoured them. They remained at his house that night. When the time for supper drew nigh, Sama Al-wa gave them water to wash their feet and hands. And they washed their hands and feet and prepared to take their meals. Rice and curry were served, and they took their meals. Afterwards they went to sleep. Early in the morning they got up, and called Sama Aļwa to sbew them the necessary things that had been prepared.
"If we do not see the things that have been prepared," said they, "to-morrow we will be put to shame if anything be wanting."
Then Sama Alwa took them to the godown and shewed them the things which had been prepared. Then they came out and sat down, and asked Sama Aļwa whether he had sent invitations to all the people of the town or not.
"I have invited all in this town," said he; "they will all come this evening. We shonld prepare one meal for them to-night."
Accordingly, in the evening, men, women and children came to his house. The sister of Sama Alwa received them, and spread mats for them, and made them sit down, and gave them betel-leaves and nuts, and thus shewed them respect. Sama Aļwa's wife brought lamps and kept them in the rooms and lighted them. All theneighbours who came to the marriage helped them in preparing for the feast. Vegetables of various kinds were brought and cut into small pieces and made into curry, fowls were killed and prepared in curries of various kinds, sweetmeats were made, rice was boiled, and everything was made ready for the marriage day. Guests began to come in, relatives and friends came, and all were made to sit in the marriagepandal. Then the devil-priests of the stána came and sat in the place of honour. They called Sama A!wa and asked him if the bridegroom was ready. So the bridegroom and the bride adorned themselves, and were brought and made to sit in the raised spot reserved for them. Then the women of the town who had come to the marriage sat in & semi-circle before them. The men sat on one side, the chief men of the caste in the front row. They called Sama Alwa and told him to perform the marriage ceremony. He called his sister to him to join him in pouring out water. She said: "O brother, do it yourself with your wife. Pour water, you and your wife, and give Dayi Beidyadi in marriage to my son."
Then he asked the priests of the stána whether they consented to what his sister had said. They replied: "If you agree to it, we also agree."
He asked his relatives and friends, and they also consented. Then he stood up and called Sayana Beidya to him and told him to stand with his face to the east; and next he called Deyi his own daughter and told her to stand with her face to the west, and made them give to each other their right hands, and took & water-pot and poured out water, and gave the bride to the bridegroom. Then asked the priests what he should do next.
“Now let the bridegroom and the bride sit down," said they, "and let the relatives and friends sprinkle rice upon them."
Then, one by one, they went and gave money into the hands of the bride and bridegroom and sprinkled rice upon their heads. Afterwards, when the shesa (the sprinkling of rice) ceremony was over, all the men and women stood up, and taking rice in their hands, threw it simultaneously upon the bride and the bridegroom, blessing them at the same time, saying:
