Dr. Scudders Tales for Little Readers | Page 7

show of salutation. When they meet their
acquaintances they content themselves by saying a friendly word or
two in passing, and then pursue their way. They have borrowed the
word salam from the Mohammedans. They salute both Mohammedans
and Europeans with this word, at the same time raising their hand to the
forehead. When they address persons of high rank, they give them their
salam thrice, touching the ground as often with both hands, and then
lifting them up to their foreheads.
The other castes salute the Brahmins by joining the hands and elevating
them to the forehead, or sometimes over the head. It is accompanied
with _andamayya_, which means, Hail, respected lord. The Brahmins
stretch out their hands and say, _aaseervaathum_--benediction.
Another very respectful kind of salutation consists in lowering both
hands to the feet of the person to be honored, or even in falling-down
and embracing them.
Of all the forms of salutation, the most respectful is the
_shaashtaangkum_, or prostration, in which the feet, the knees, the
stomach, the head, and the arms, all touch the ground. In doing this,
they throw themselves at their whole length on the ground, and stretch
out both arms above their heads. This is practised before priests, and in

the presence of an assembly, when they appear before it to beg pardon
for a crime.
Relations, who have long been separated, testify their joy when they
meet by chucking each other under the chin, and shedding tears of joy.
I am not aware that grown persons ever kiss each other. Sometimes
mothers, or other individuals, will put their noses to the cheeks of little
children, and draw the air through them, just as we do when we smell
any thing which is agreeable. At other times they will apply the thumb
and first finger to the cheek of the child, and then apply them to their
own noses, and, as it were, smell them.
The women, as a mark of respect, turn their backs, or at least their faces
aside, when they are in the presence of those whom they highly esteem.
They are never permitted to sit in the presence of men. A married
woman cannot do this, even in the presence of her husband.
If a person meets another of high rank, he must leave the path, if on
foot, or alight, if on horseback, and remain standing until he has passed.
He must at the same time take off his slippers. He also must take off his
slippers when he enters a house. Should he fail to do this, it would be
considered a great impropriety.
In addressing a person of note, they mast keep at a certain distance
from him, and cover their mouths with their hands while they are
speaking, lest their breath, or a particle of moisture, should escape to
trouble him.
When the Hindoos visit a person of distinction for the first time, civility
requires them to take some present as a mark of respect, or to show that
they come with a friendly intention; especially if they wish to ask some
favor in return. When they have not the means of making large presents,
they carry with them sugar, plantains, milk, and other things of this
kind.
In case of mourning, visits must always be made, though at a distance
of a hundred miles. Letters of condolence would by no means be
received as a substitute.

CHAPTER IV
.
MARRIAGE AMONG THE HINDOOS.

My dear Children--Marriage, to the Hindoos is the greatest event of
their lives. In the celebration of it, many ceremonies are performed Of
these I will mention some of the most important. If the father of the
young girl is a Brahmin, and if he is rich and liberal, he will frequently
bear all the expenses of the marriage of his daughter. To give a
daughter in marriage and to sell her, are about the same thing. Almost
every parent makes his daughter an article of traffic, refusing to give
her up until the sum of money for which he consented to let her go, is
paid. Men of distinction generally lay out this money for jewels, which
they present to their daughters on their wedding-day. You will infer
from what I have just said, that the parties to be married have nothing
to do in the choice of each other.
There are properly but four months in the year in which marriages can
take place, namely March, April, May, and June. This probably arises
from the circumstance that these are the hottest seasons of the year--the
seasons when the people have more leisure to attend to them. From the
harvest, also, which has just been gathered in, they are provided with
means to perform the various ceremonies.
The marriage ceremony