The ocean of story, being C.H. Tawney's translation of Somadeva's ...

APPENDIX II ROMANCE OF BETEL-CHEWING 281
except in the married state, this function is believed to attest
and seal their irrefragable mutual fidelity.
Page 358. Ndyar (traders, artisans, washermen, etc.).
On the death of an important member of a taravdd (descendants
in the female line of one common female ancestor)
the practice of not shaving the entire body, for a period
varying from forty-one days to a year, is involved. The
observance, known by the name of diksha, necessitates the
effected man offering half-boiled rice and gingelly seeds to
the spirits of the deceased every morning after his bath. He
is also under restriction from women, from alcoholic drinks,
from chewing betel, and also from tobacco.
Vol. vi, p. 97. Paraiyan (low-class pariahs of the Tamil
country).
Betel enters largely into every part of the marriage ceremonies,
which are long and intricate. After the exchange of
betel has ratified the agreement of marriage, the bridegroom,
with several relations, etc., proceeds to the bride's home,
where more betel is exchanged. After the lapse of a few days
the girl's family is expected to pay a return visit, and the
party should include at least seven men. Betel is again
exchanged, and the guests are fed, or presented with a small
gift of money. When marriage follows close on betrothal, the
girl is taken to the houses of her relations, and goes through
the nalangu ceremony, which consists of smearing her with
turmeric paste (see Ocean, Vol. VIII, p. 18), an oil bath, and
presentation of betel and sweets. The auspicious day and
hour for the marriage are fixed by the Valluvan, or priest of
the Paraiyans. The ceremonial is generally carried through
in a single day. On the morning of the wedding day three
male and two married female relations of the bridegroom go to
the potter's house to fetch the pots, which have been already
ordered. The potter's fee is a fowl, pumpkin, paddy, betel,
and a few annas. The bride, accompanied by the headman and
her relations, goes to the bridegroom's village, bringing with
her a number of articles called petti varisai, or box-presents.
These consist of a lamp, cup, brass vessel, ear-ornament called
kaldppu, twenty-five betel leaves, and areca-nuts, onions and
cakes, a lump of jaggery (crude sugar), grass mat, silver toering,
rice, a bundle of betel leaves, and five coco-nuts, which
are placed inside a bamboo box.
Numerous other ceremonies follow, with which we are not