ceremony they never eat without washing the hands
and face, which is a distinct advance on the prevalent
dirty habits of some of the other Bhotias.
A Bhotia explained to me that, as the Joharis bought
their wives (often for £15 or £20), they were superior to
the Eastern Bhotias, who did not do so. “ Besides,” he
said, “ having bought my wife I can order her about,
and if she objects I can beat h e r! ” Truly this is an
advance in civilisation.
In regard to marriage the ordinary Hindu customs
are followed. Some person, often the family priest,
is sent in search of a bride. The-formal asking takes
place between the ages of nine and twenty-five years,
and after the asking usually six months elapse before
the formal marriage, while consummation takes place
at the age of maturity. In all marriage arrangements
the girl is never consulted; the parents on both sides
usually make all their plans absolutely regardless of
the children concerned. Every man and woman is
married, and this is a notable difference between the
Western and Eastern Bhotias, where in every village
many unmarried persons are to be found, the reason
being that there marriage depends upon the will of the
parties, who are always of mature age at the time of the
marriage contract, and instances are not. uncommon
of men and women who have remained unmarried
all their lives because nobody would marry them.
Brahmans perform the ceremony according to the
Hindu Scriptures. An altar is made and fire placed
on the top, and at the four corners are little trees, and
all round the altar are pine trees. The bride and
bridegroom take seven turns round the fire and the
altar, this being the binding part of the ceremony.
The bride puts her foot on a Sil, or stone used for
grinding, and as she goes round pretends to slip and is
caught by the bridegroom each time, in this way signi-
To the Milam Milam, where the To the Untadhura
glacier valleys part Pass
—>-To A lm o r a
THE MILAM VALLEY
Milam is 104 miles from Almora
that in future all lovers will be ground to powder.
Before marriage a girl wears a nose-ring called Bah, but