On the tray, with the pedigree, was laid a nuzza, or offering of five gold mohurs, and twenty-one (the lucky number) rupees; a brocaded cover, fringed with silver, was spread over the whole, and this was conveyed by the male agent to the young Begum’s father.  The tray and its contents are retained for ever, if the proposal is accepted:  if rejected, the parties return the whole without delay, which is received as a tacit proof that the suitor is rejected:  no further explanation is ever given or required.

In the present instance the tray was detained, and in a few days after a female from their family was sent to my friend’s house to make a general scrutiny of the zeenahnah and its inmates.  This female was pressed to stay a day or two, and in that time many important subjects underwent discussion.  The youth was introduced, and everything according with the views entertained by both parties, the fathers met, and the marriage, it was decided, should take place within a twelvemonth, when the young lady would have accomplished her thirteenth year.

‘Do you decide on having Mugganee[9] performed?’ is the question proposed by the father of the youth to the father of the young maiden.  In the present case it was chosen, and great were the preparations of my friend to do all possible honour to the future bride of her son.

Mugganee is the first contract, by which the parties are bound to fulfil their engagement at an appointed time.

The dress for a bride[10] differs in one material point from the general style of Hindoostaunie costume:  a sort of gown is worn, made of silver tissue, or some equally expensive article, about the walking length of an English dress; the skirt is open in front, and contains about twenty breadths of the material, a tight body and long sleeves.  The whole dress is trimmed very richly with embroidered trimming and silver riband; the deputtah (drapery) is made to correspond.  This style of dress is the original Hindoo fashion, and was worn at the Court of Delhi for many centuries; but of late years it has been used only on marriage festivals amongst the better sort of people in Hindoostaun, except Kings or Nuwaubs sending khillauts to females, when this dress, called a jhammah,[11] is invariably one of the articles.

The costly dresses for the present Mugganee my friend prepared at a great expense, and with much good taste; to which were added a ruby ring of great value, large gold ear-rings, offerings of money, the flower-garlands for the head, neck, wrists, and ankles, formed of the sweet-scented jessamine; choice confectionery set out in trays with the pawns and fruits; the whole conveyed under an escort of soldiers and servants with a band of music, from the residence of Meer Mahumud to that of his bride elect, accompanied by many friends of the family.  These offerings from the youth bind the contract with the young lady, who wears his ring from that day to the end of her life.