The ceremonies used in India, at betrothing and marriages, are as follows:--When the parents of the _Canya_, or young woman, have made choice of a young man whom they wish to give her as a husband, they announce their intention to the two Brahmans, whom the two families employ in astrological affairs. These Brahmans make strict enquiry respecting the young man’s character, and examine the constellations under which the presumptive bride and bridegroom were born. If these constellations have a favourable aspect, the parents of the _Canya_ must procure a considerable quantity of white sandal wood, magnel, salt, coco-nut oil, betel, areca, and about two or three hundred coco-nuts. When all these articles are ready, the bridegroom is conducted to the house of the _Canya_; and the Brahman, in the presence of all the relations assembled, performs in due order the ceremony of the _Hòma_, or burnt-offering, presented to the whole _Dèvà_, that is, the gods, under whom are understood the seven planets, which are solemnly invoked as witnesses of this betrothing, and entreated to grant a fortunate and long continuance to the union. For this purpose he takes different kinds of costly and sweet-smelling wood, such as sandal, _aghil_, _arasu_, and camphor wood; cuts them in pieces about a palm in length; places them in a square pit, and makes a fire of them; which, however, must not be blown, but excited by a fan. As soon as it begins to burn, the Brahmans repeat certain forms of prayer, by which they solicit the protection of the before-mentioned gods; and throw into the fire oil, butter, sugar, honey, barley, and rice boiled in milk. The bride and bridegroom stand by with the most devout attention, and from time to time throw into the fire also inflammable substances of the like kind, that it may burn incessantly for at least a fourth part of the day. When this ceremony is finished, the Brahman causes the bridegroom to kneel down; places a piece of gold or silver brocade on his head; puts a gold ring on his finger, and paints a crescent on his forehead with pulverised sandal wood and _curcuma_. When he has ornamented the bridegroom in this manner, he puts into his hand a coco-nut painted with all sorts of colours, and says: “Such a person (repeating his name), the son of ----, in presence of all the gods, now gives his daughter (here he repeats her name), as wife to ----, who is the son of ----.” This form the _Canya_ must repeat word for word, and at the same time mention all the names. Two copies of it are then written upon _Olas_, or palm-leaves, on which are inscribed also the day of the betrothing, and the names of the constellations under which the bride and bridegroom were born. These _Olas_, painted with _curcuma_, and ornamented with various kinds of figures, are exchanged by the newly-betrothed pair; and from that moment their union is considered as insoluble. Different musical instruments