At the betrothal ceremony, when sweets and pan-supari are taken by the future bridegroom and his party to the house of the girl whom he seeks in marriage, the female members of both families, and the girl herself, are present. This fact shows the absence of the Muhammadan gosha system among Dudekulas. A Muhammadan wedding lasts over five or six days, whereas the ceremonies are, among the Dudekulas, completed within twenty-four hours. On the night preceding the nikka day, a pilau is prepared, and a feast is held at the bridegroom's house. On the following morning, when it is still dark, the bridegroom, accompanied by his relations, starts on horseback in procession, with beating of drums and letting off of fireworks. The procession arrives at the bride's house before sunrise. The Khazi is sent for, and the mahr is settled. This is a nominal gift settled on the wife before marriage by the bridegroom. On the death of a husband, a widow has priority of claim on his property to the promised amount of the mahr. Two male witnesses are sent to the bride, to obtain her assent to the union, and to the amount of the mahr. The Khazi, being an orthodox Muhammadan, treats the Dudekula bride as strictly gosha for the time being, and, therefore, selects two of her near relatives as witnesses. The lutcha (marriage badge), consisting of a single or double string of beads, is brought in a cup filled with sandal paste. The Khazi chants the marriage service, and sends the lutcha in to the bride with his blessing. It is tied round her neck by the female relations of the bridegroom, and the marriage rites are over. The usual Muhammadan form of greeting among Muhammadans is the familiar "Peace be with you." "And with you be peace." When a Dudekula greets a Muhammadan, he simply bows, and, with members of his own community, uses a Telugu form of salutation, e.g., niku mokkutamu. The Dudekulas, male and female, dress exactly like Hindus, but, as a rule, the men do not shave their beard. Disputes, and social questions affecting the community, are settled by a Khazi. With the increase in cotton mills, and the decline of the indigenous hand-weaving industry, the demand for cotton-cleaning labour has diminished, and some Dudekulas have, of necessity, taken to agriculture. Land-owners are very scarce among them, but some are abkari (liquor) contractors, village schoolmasters, and quack doctors. In the Ceded Districts, the cotton-cleaning industry is solely confined to the Dudekulas. The synonyms of Dudekula, Ladaf and Nurbash, recorded at times of census, are corruptions of Nad-daf (a cotton dresser) and Nurbaf (weaving). Dudi.--A title of Kurumos, who officiate as priests at the temples of village deities. Dudi (cotton) Balija.--A name for traders in cotton in the Telugu country, and an occupational sub-division of Komati. Durga (fort).--A gotra of Kurni. Dutan.--Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, as a synonym of Ari.