13. The dola marriage is done in quite a different way. The following is the ritual at Ballia. The friends and relations are invited to attend at the bridegroom’s house, and they are supplied with a meal known as kalewa, which ordinarily consists of rice and pulse or parched grain (sattu) or wheat cakes. The men then proceed to the bride’s house and halt about a mile off to take refreshment. The boy’s father subscribes twelve pice and the others two pice each with which liquor is purchased. The sum given by the boy’s father is known as batsâri or nisâri, and that contributed by his friends behri. After drinking they go to the bride’s house, which they reach usually about sunset. There the guardian of the boy pays twenty-four pice, known as neg, to the father of the bride, who supplements it with sufficient to provide another drink for the party. Then they are all fed, and next morning they go away with the bride. The boy’s guardian presents two sheets (sâri), one for the bride and one for her mother, and gives a couple of rupees to her father, who in return gives a loin cloth (dhoti) and a sort of handkerchief worn over the shoulder (kandhâwar) to the boy, as well as a sheet for his mother. The barber, washerman and village watchman receive a present of two annas each on this occasion. Sometimes the owner of the village charges a rupee as marwachh or marwâna, (mânro, the nuptial shed), which is paid by the father of the bridegroom, and may perhaps be a survival of a commutation of the jus primae noctis, but is more probably one of the ordinary village dues levied from tenants by the landlord. This, however, is not invariably taken, and in return he usually supplies some wood, etc., for the wedding. The bride is supplied by her guardian with a sheet (sâri), brass bracelets (mâthi), and anklets (pairi), made of bell metal. Her brother or some other person as her representative accompanies her to the house of the bridegroom. It is a peculiar custom that on this occasion he always walks behind the bride. In the dola form of marriage the bridegroom or his father very seldom goes to the house of the bride. The duty of escorting the bride home is left to some relation or clansman. 14. After the bride has arrived that very day or very soon after the date of the wedding (lagan) is fixed. The family barber takes ten pieces of turmeric, of which he gives five to the bride and five to the bridegroom. With this he brings one and-a-quarter sers of paddy, which he divides equally between them. The turmeric is ground into a paste, which is rubbed on the foreheads of the pair, and the paddy is parched and made into lawa for use in the ceremony of lawa parachhana. This part of the ritual is called haldi or haldidhân. The next day or a day after comes the ceremony of matkor or “the digging of the earth.” This commences by the bridegroom’s mother worshipping a drum (dhol). If his mother be dead, this is done by his aunt or some other elderly female relation.