Karaka, Dosabhai Framji: History of the Parsis: including their manners, customs, religion and present position ; in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1884)

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HISTOR Y OF THE PAR SIS.

[CHAP. IV.

presents are sent to her husband by her mother.
These presents consist of new clothes, rings, shawls,
etc., which are placed in a tray with sweetmeats
wrapped up in a silvered paper in the shape of
a cone. The ladies who carry these presents are
then treated to a dinner at the husband's house,
after which they recite certain songs appropriate to
the auspicious occasion. As the time of her accouche-
ment approaches, her mother-in-law gives her some
little money and a cocoa-nut, and makes a small
mark with red powder on her forehead, and sends
her to her parents.

At the house of the girl's mother, some days before
the probable date of accouchement, the place or room
previously mentioned is set apart for the purpose.
As soon as the woman is in travail she is taken to this
room, where an iron cot with a cotton bed is provided
for her, and a cradle with an iron framework for the
expected child. On the day of accouchement the
mother goes to visit her daughter-in-law, and puts on
her bed a few rupees and some dry rice as an auspi-
cious omen. The mother of the girl then gives the
husband's mother a dinner, and before leaving she is
presented with a new dress. The husband's mother,
on the following day, sends some sweetmeat and dis-
tributes it among their respective relations and friends.

According to Parsi custom, a woman is supposed
to be unclean for forty days after childbirth, and