DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2374#0505
492
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Jan. 1.
W
CHAPTER procure such dainties, eat animal food, and drink spirituous liquors;
, but they reject carrion. None of them can read. When a Pollan
wishes to marry, he applies to his master, who is bound to defray
the expense. He gives 7 Fanams to the girl's master, 5 Fanams to
her parents, I Fanam worth of cloth to the bride, \\ Fanam's worth
of cloth to the bridegroom, and about 10 Fanams for the marriage-
feast ; in all 24^- Fanams, or 16 s. \\d. The ceremony consists in put-
ting a ring on the bride's finger. When a man becomes tired of his
wife, and she gives her consent, he may sell her to any other person
who will pay back the expense incurred at the marriage. A woman
/may leave her husband when she pleases. If she choose to go back
to the hut of her parents, they and their master must pay back what
they received for her ; but, if she choose to cohabit with any other
man, the whole expense is lost. They are, however, seldom guilty
of this injustice. The husband, so long as his wife remains with
him, has an undoubted right to give her corporal punishment, should
she be unfaithful; but this right is exercised with great discretion,
lest she should run away with her paramour. The wife works for
her husband's master, who must maintain her, and her children until
they are able to work : the eldest son then belongs to him, but all
the other children belong to their mother's master, and return to
the hut of her parents. The goddess worshipped by the Poliar is
named Paradevatd, and is represented by a stone, which is placed,
in the open air, on a mound like an altar. The priest (Pujdri) is a
Pollan, and, at a feast celebrated on the commencement of the new
year, offers up sacrifices of fowls, fruit, spirituous liquor, &c. If
these offerings are omitted, the goddess inflicts sickness; but she
may be appeased by prayer alone, should the poverty of her votary
render him unable to bestow the offerings. The Foliar believe,
that after death the spirits of mankind exist, and have an influence
over human affairs. The spirits of good men are called Ericapeny,
and those of bad men are called Cidi. The former are most power-
ful: but sacrifices and offerings are made to both; to the one for
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
Jan. 1.
W
CHAPTER procure such dainties, eat animal food, and drink spirituous liquors;
, but they reject carrion. None of them can read. When a Pollan
wishes to marry, he applies to his master, who is bound to defray
the expense. He gives 7 Fanams to the girl's master, 5 Fanams to
her parents, I Fanam worth of cloth to the bride, \\ Fanam's worth
of cloth to the bridegroom, and about 10 Fanams for the marriage-
feast ; in all 24^- Fanams, or 16 s. \\d. The ceremony consists in put-
ting a ring on the bride's finger. When a man becomes tired of his
wife, and she gives her consent, he may sell her to any other person
who will pay back the expense incurred at the marriage. A woman
/may leave her husband when she pleases. If she choose to go back
to the hut of her parents, they and their master must pay back what
they received for her ; but, if she choose to cohabit with any other
man, the whole expense is lost. They are, however, seldom guilty
of this injustice. The husband, so long as his wife remains with
him, has an undoubted right to give her corporal punishment, should
she be unfaithful; but this right is exercised with great discretion,
lest she should run away with her paramour. The wife works for
her husband's master, who must maintain her, and her children until
they are able to work : the eldest son then belongs to him, but all
the other children belong to their mother's master, and return to
the hut of her parents. The goddess worshipped by the Poliar is
named Paradevatd, and is represented by a stone, which is placed,
in the open air, on a mound like an altar. The priest (Pujdri) is a
Pollan, and, at a feast celebrated on the commencement of the new
year, offers up sacrifices of fowls, fruit, spirituous liquor, &c. If
these offerings are omitted, the goddess inflicts sickness; but she
may be appeased by prayer alone, should the poverty of her votary
render him unable to bestow the offerings. The Foliar believe,
that after death the spirits of mankind exist, and have an influence
over human affairs. The spirits of good men are called Ericapeny,
and those of bad men are called Cidi. The former are most power-
ful: but sacrifices and offerings are made to both; to the one for