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as though it is some [ILLEGIBLE] name for a strange disease. His father is a teacher speaks Bengali, Hindi, English. So Ramesh says he would have opposed his marriage at this time, if it were not for his father's condition, afraid he might have a relapse. I rather doubt this because his mother was the one who was pushing for the marriage Ramesh being the elder of the four children. So he got married in May to a girl he had never seen, chosen by his parents. They were married in a village outside of Benares in the bride's house. The girl returned to the city with her husband and in-laws but only for 5 days. Then she was sent back to her village to await the call of her husband and her return at which time the marriage will be consummated after the pandas decide by the stars which will be the favorable day. She was sent away because he had to study and take his M.A. exams. I ask if he will send for her, when he has taken his exams. He says he does not know. I asked is he pleased with her. He hesitates. "I don't dislike her. I don't know."

A magician comes down the lane yesterday in his mouth a flute, of the sincere sounding, snake charmer type, played with his left hand in his right a Siva drum, slung over each arm in cloth logs his paraphanalia. He sits in the lane as about 25 kids gather around, applauding with delight

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at the end of each trick. Any city must be beautiful if it has magicians roaming its streets.

Today is the Naga Panchami (August 7, 1970) it is a holiday in reverence to the Nagas or snakes. In the morning Mrs. VJ Singh pastes a line cut illustration, about 4 by 6 inches, of Krishna and the King of the Nagas on the right hand door of my room. (Most Indian doors are double and fold inward 'latched' by a piece of chain drawn across the inside when they are closed). She first puts her hand several times on the door it has been dipped in a yellow colored mixture which acts as paste and then attaches her broadsheet on top of the paste. She then from a tray she is carrying, puts some rice, dough and milk on either side of the door frame on the floor. This is food for the snakes. I assume this ritual is to protect the house from bad snakes and their evil doing. Serpents are considered powerful and some of them immortal. It is clear that early man feared snakes, believing them to possess other worldly powers and one reveres what one fears.

Mrs. A.K. Singh says people worship the Naga because he is a god, because the world rests on his head, because he upholds Vishnu on the endless sea. She does not read and has learned verbally from her mother in the traditional way. It is always amazing, this mythology handed down through thousands of years and still followed and believed today. This can only exist in a pre-electronic society where all information is passed personally from person to person.