the young Memon disappears until the morrow.  The older and more settled members of the community amuse themselves till mid-night by congregating in the tea and coffee shops of the city and there discussing the general trend of trade.  Others have formed unions, which assemble at the house of each member in turn and spend a few hours in singing the “maulud” or hymns on the birth of the Prophet (upon whom be peace).  These hymns, in pure Hejazi verse, are sung in different measures and are not unpleasant to the ear at a distance.  Another peculiar Memon custom is the street-praying for rain.  A number of men and boys assemble about 9 p.m., in the street and sing chants set to music by some poet of Gujarat or Hindustan.  The chants are really prayers to God for rain, for forgiveness of sins and for absolution from ingratitude for former bounties.  One with a strong voice sings the recitative, and then the chorus breaks in with the words “Order, O Lord, the rain-cloud of thy mercy!” Thus chanting the company wanders from street to street till midnight and continues the practice nightly until the rain falls.

A Rangari betrothal though simple enough in itself contains certain elements of interest.  The father of the bridegroom usually informs the Patel of the caste that his son’s betrothal will take place on a certain day, and on the evening of that day the bridegroom’s retinue, accompanied by the Patel and various friends and relations, journeys to the house of the bride.  After the company has fully assembled someone brings forward a cocoanut on a tray with a few copper coins beside it.  The Patel then asks why the cocoanut has been brought, to which one of the bride’s supporters replies “It is for the betrothal of the daughter of Zeid with Omar.”  This feature of the ceremony is obviously of Hindu origin and must be a legacy of the days when the Rangaris, not yet converted to Islam, belonged to the Hindu Khatri or Kshattriya caste of Gujarat and Cutch.  For the loose copper coins, which till recently were styled “dharam-paisa,” must be lingering remnants of the Brahman “dakshina,” which always accompanied the “shripal” or auspicious fruit; while among Hindus from the very earliest ages cocoanuts have been sent by the bride to the bridegroom, sometimes as earnest of an offer of marriage, sometimes in token of acceptance.  After this ceremony is complete the parties cannot retract, the ceremony being considered equivalent to a “nikah” or actual registration by the Kazi; and this fact again discovers the Hindu origin of the Mahomedan Rangaris and of their customs, for among foreign Musulmans the betrothal is a mere period of probation and is terminable at the desire of either party.  The “dharam-paisa” usually finds its way into the pocket of the street-Mulla, who has a room in the neighbouring mosque and is charged with the circulation of invitations to all members of the Rangari jamat to assemble at the bride-groom’s house for the betrothal-ceremony.