On that day the parents or brothers of the mother—if they can afford it—send her a coat and cap made of red cloth for the baby, and a yellow loin-cloth for the mother. This present is sometimes accompanied by a special sort of sweetmeat known as suthaura (sonth, dry ginger) made of sugar, ginger, and other spices; sometimes with the suthaura is sent some caudle (achhwâni). There is no distinct trace of the couvade, except that the husband has to take the first sup of the cleansing draught given to the mother, and that he does not shave for six days after his wife’s delivery. There are no special ceremonies in connection with twins, but they are considered inauspicious. If during the pregnancy of a woman an eclipse happen to occur, she is made to sit quiet while it lasts with a stone pestle in her hand, and is not allowed to move or touch any cutting instrument. If she move, it is believed that her child will be deformed, and if she touch a cutting implement that it will be born mutilated. The child is named by the senior member of the family. On the fourth or fifth day after the mother rejoins her family, the child’s head is shaved (mûnran), and when about six months old, it is fed for the first time on grain (annaprâsana); it is at this time that it is usually named. At the age of five or seven its ears are bored (kanchhedan), and this constitutes the initiation: after this the child must conform to the rules of the tribe regarding food. [Adoption.] 10. When it is proposed to adopt a boy, the clansmen are invited and in their presence the parents make over the boy to the adopter with these words,—“You were my son by a deed of evil (pâp); now you are the son of so-and-so by a virtuous act (dharm).” As the boy is accepted, the members of the caste sprinkle rice over him, and the adopter gives a feast. [Betrothal.] 11. The customs of betrothal vary somewhat in different places. Thus, in Mirzapur, when a marriage is proposed, the bridegroom’s father with his uncle and other near relations visit the bride. She is carefully examined to make sure that she has no physical defect, and, if approved, the boy’s father gives her a rupee, and some coarse sugar is distributed. Then her father entertains the party. Next follows the regular betrothal (barrekhi). This generally takes place at the village liquor shop, where the two fathers exchange platters (dauna) full of liquor five times, and at the last turn the bride’s father puts a rupee into the cup of his relation-to-be. Liquor is served round, two-thirds of the cost of which is paid by the father of the boy, and one-third by the father of the girl. On this day the date of the wedding is fixed by the Pandit. In Ballia, on the contrary, the parents and relations of the girl go to the boy’s house and present him with a rupee and loin-cloth. This is known as paupûja, or “the worshipping of the feet” of the bridegroom.