‘At all marriages, (the ceremonies of which will be hereafter detailed,) or on the occurrence of much-wished-for events, such as the return of a son safely from the wars, the recovery of a lost child, &c., or when a lady wishes to be enrolled among the _naik zuns_, or _pure matrons_, a feast is given in honor of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet, which is termed _kundooree_, a word implying _off-falls_.—No woman can partake of this feast, unless she be of the purest morals; and it is generally imagined, that an impure person, even tasting the sacred food prepared on that occasion, would surely die. The lady who gives the feast, performs menial offices to the guests, such as washing their feet, &c. The victuals served up, consists of such articles as Fatima is supposed to have preferred, viz. rice, ghee, sugar, pulse, and vegetables. A share is sent to the men; but not of that set apart for the offering; of which the pure matrons may alone partake. To be considered as such, a woman must have regularly kept all the annual feasts, and be married; or, if a virgin, she must then at least disclaim all intentions of changing her condition. No woman contracted in marriage only for a time, such as the _moota_[7] of the _Sheeaus_, and the _nekaw_[7] of the _Soonees_, can be admitted. The word _nekaw_, among the vulgar, implies, but improperly, the secondary kind of marriage. No woman, who has married a second time, though she may not have conversed with the first husband, can partake of the _kundooree_. ----- Footnote 7: A loose state of irregular matrimony, sanctioned by the Mahomedan law. -----