12th, _Tularsimàla_, a garland of sweet basil, for which the Indians have a particular fondness. When the bride is completely dressed, and covered with all her ornaments, she is conducted, by the before-mentioned seven women, to the door of the dressing-room, where she remains standing for some time with her face looking outwards. She is preceded by one of the women, who holds in one hand a burning lamp with seven wicks, and in the other seven pieces of rice dough mixed with _magnel_. The Brahman then repeats some prayers, the intention of which is to protect the bride from all kinds of misfortune and witchcraft; but, in particular, from the witchcraft of the eyes. For the same purpose, the woman who goes before her raises the seven pieces of rice dough three times above the bride’s head, and then does the same thing with the lamp. When this ceremony is ended, and the bride’s feet have been washed, she is seated on a mat, which supplies the place of a marriage-bed. The singers then begin to sing all sorts of nuptial songs, in which great praise is bestowed on the new-married couple, with wishes that they may produce many and good children; and, in general, that in the married state they may be fortunate and happy. The bride, in the mean time, holds a betel leaf before her face, in order to conceal her virgin blushes. As a specimen of these songs, I shall subjoin the following, in the dialect of Malabar: Shri sagala gunna nàthane Shri Lakshmi gunna madàve Mahà Meru yatha sughame Sadadam pùrti tarename Sàdhu dèhangam sushilaye Sàdhu cusuma sugha bàle Mahà virakti su canyaghe Mahà viren Kitti Bartavine. That is: “Happy Sun! the giver of all felicity; and thou happy mother _Lakshmi_! grant them the enjoyment of all those good things which rejoice the heart on the mountain _Meru_ (the abode of the blessed gods). Ensure this pleasure to the modest, timid bride, who exhales an odour like that of the sweetest flowers.--Grant this, ye who have blessed the beautiful, worthy maid with a good husband!”