DRAB TREE, Borassus flabelliformis. BRACELET.
Bracelet, Brassard, . Frt. I Braccialetto, smaniglia, IT. Armband, . . . . GER. Brazalete, . . . SP. Khangni ; Rakhi, HIND.
Bracelets, anklets, and armlets of gold, silver, brass, copper, and deer horn, the metals being solidly massive or in the form of chains, are in use in all eastern countries, amongst Hindus and Mahotnedans. Occasionally a grown man of the Hindus may be seen with a small gold or silver arm-ring or anklet, but in general they are restricted to women and children. The custom has doubtless obtained through all ages ; and they are alluded to in Genesis xxxviii.18; Isaiah iii. 19. Those of some of the Hindus are inconveniently massive, and heavy rings, usually of silver set with a fringe of small bells, are often worn by Ilindu ladies. The brass ornaments of the Santa' women weigh several pounds. Allusion is made in Scripture to a tinkling with the feet. Hindu women wear loose ornaments one above another on their ankles, which, at every motion of the feet, produce a tinkling noise. Armlets are worn alike by Hindus and Mahomedans, and by men and women; are of gold or silver ; some arc in the form of massive carved rings, some as lockets, the more expensive worn by royalty are their bazu band, literally arm-binder. These are generally worn as ornaments, since the most ancient times, like earrings (Gen. xxxv. 4 ; Exod. xxxii. 3, 4 ; Hos. ii. 13; Judg. viii. 25). The EPOT ICC in aures were often of gold, like those of the Ishmaelit,es ; but ornaments were often caskets containing, as with the Mahornedans, charms, their taviz, or, like the Jangam sect of Hindus, the phallic lingain. These ornaments are often worn round the neck, like the golden bulla and leathern toruin of the Roman youth, and as in Prov. vi. 21, and most women have frontlet ornaments, such as are alluded to in Deut. vi. 8.
The bracelets largely worn in India by all Ilindu and Mahomedan women are of coloured glass, ornamented with lac and brass or tinfoil ; some of the colours are beautiful; the manufacture of shell bracelets Li ono of the indigenous arta of Bengal, in which the caste of Sanklutri at Dacca excel. Tho cluttiks of which they are
made are large univalve shells (Turblnella pyruni) from six to seven inches long, and of a pure white colour. They are imported into Cal cutta from Ramnad in Southern India, and from the Maldive Islands. At Dacca these shells are used for beetling fine muslin, but principally for making the large insisive bracelets which are worn by Hindu women. They are sawn into semicircular pieces, and these are riveted and cemented to form the bracelets, some of which are elaborately carved, and inlaid with a composition of lac and a red pigment. A pair of bracelets of this description frequently costs as high as 80 rupees. Of the thick pieces of the shells, beads are made to form the necklaces, which the Bengal sepoys wear.
Some Marwari women and the Binjara women have the entire forearm from the wrist to the elbow covered with heavy massive bracelets, and the lower part of the legs equally covered with anklets. Tho armhole of the Binjara women are of deer-horn. Amongst the Rajpnts, the women adopt a brother by the gift of a bracelet. The intrinsic value of such pledge is never looked to, nor is it requisite it should be costly, though it varies with the means and rank of the donor, and may be of flock silk and spangles, or gold chains and gems. The acceptance of the pledge and its return is by the Katchli, or corset, of simple silk or satin, or gold brocade, and pearls. Colonel Tod was the Itakhi band Bhai of the three queens of Udaipur, Boondi, and Kotah, besides Chund Bai, the maiden sister of the Rana, as well as of many ladies of the chieftains of rank. Though the bracelet may be sent by maidens, it is only on occasions of urgent necessity or danger. The festival of the bracelet (Rakhi) is in spring. The adopted brother may hazard his life in his adopted sister's cause, and yet never receive a mite in reward, for he cannot even see the fair object who, as brother of her adoption, has constituted him her defender.—Tods Travels in Rajasthan. See Phylactery ; Talsam ; Taviz.