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I shall do that. But I have provided a little fine chira, and excellent moorki. If any gentleman chooses some, it will be given him.
You have done well. There is no harm in that. There is more than enough: however there is no harm in plenty.
Where is the place to make the offerings?
Yonder. The place for the assembly is to the south.
To-morrow is the day for being shaved[১]. You must get things ready for that to-day.
Yes, Sir, I will leave no part of the business undone to-day.
Bind up, and get all the gifts ready.
That is done. There will be two Sorus's [gifts of sixteen vessels] and one bull. All articles are ready for them.
Have you brought the bull and the calves[২]?
Yes, Sir; they are come, but the calves are amazingly dear.
Why? Could you not have sent word before? then I could have secured them for a trifle.
That was not done before, and now what else can be done? There is no altering a house when the building is finished.
That's true: what is done is well done. Now I see no more occasion for consultation.
To-morrow is the day for you to be shaved. Can you invite all your relations?
Yes, that's done. People are gone to invite them.
- ↑ The Hindoos do not shave after the death of a parent or near relation till the day appointed by the shastra, which varies according to the person's caste.
- ↑ It is common for the richest people in India to make an offering of a bull and four female calves at the shraddha of their parents. These bulls are marked and turned loose, and are called by the English Brahmunee bulls.
