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JUNE, 1884.)
BOMBAY DANCING GIRLS.
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for the entertainment of Indra and the other a religious turn of mind. They have Brahman gods.
priests in their service, who read to them the In Goa and the places round it, none but these sacred books, and in return for such services women have a licence to dance. In lieu of receive handsome gifts. They visit temples marriage they perform the ceremony of seja, and mosques, observe fasts and feasts, and or marriage with a dagger; and until they have feed Brahmaņs and faqirs. done this, they are debarred from performing Excepting the head, dancing girls shave before the gods in temples. As everywhere themselves clean, not allowing even a hair else, the Portuguese laid their hands on some of to grow on the temples near the ears. these women when they took possession of Goa, Like other Hindû women, they divide the and forcibly converted them to Christianity, and hair in front along the centre, comb it from not content with such conversion they kept both sides backwards, and tie it in a knot resting them as their mistresses. Their descendants loosely on the neck. They dress like others have ever since been free from caste prejudices | in a long robe and tight fitting bodice, generally in respect to carnal intercourse with people of English cloth, and sometimes of silk or of other tban their own caste. They do not other rich stuff with borders and trimmings of observe Christian rites, but Hinduism in all its different patterns. When going out they muffle details. Their sisters, who either escaped from themselves with Kaśmir shawls, and put on Goa or screened themselves from the Portu- China velvet slippers. Except that it is costguese, will not dine with them. These and | lior, the ceremonial dress of a dancing girl the other Naikins come to Bombay with the does not differ from that worn on ordinary express object of carrying on their profession, occasions. The bodice is richly ornamented and when they have succeeded in making a for- with gold, silver, and velvet; lace or pearls. tune, they either return to their native country The shawl is worked with flowers, birds and or establish themselves as permanent residents. beasts in gold and pearls. As a role they are
"Dancing girls as a rule are handsome, with wealthy and load themselves with jewellery. open smiling countenances, large sparkling eyes, Daily they decorate the head with garlands of regular features and an intelligent pleasing sweet-smelling flowers and perfume themselves. appearance. They are fair, with a softness of The following are among their ornaments : face and features, a gentleness of manner, with For the head Chándani, Mor, and Naga ; for a peculiar grace and ease, which one would the cars Búlyd, Ering', Káp, and Kudi; for little expect to find among them. A lady-like the neck Aidorá, Chinchapati, Gáthle, Góp, Pôt, manner, modesty and gentleness, beautiful Káligáthi, Sakli, and Vajratik; for the hands small hands and taper fingers and their ankles Bungdyd, Tode, Jode, Paflyá, Vela, Ruiphú, neatly turned so as to meet the admiration of Gajre, and Niláchyápályá; for the fingers, the connaisseur,--they draw all eyes on them to rings of sorts; for the feet, Sukla, and somethe oblivion of all else; whilst they themselves times a Bédi, and for the toes Sálé. Except the are under the impression that they have taken feet ornaments, which are always of silver, no to a most honourable profession, by following Hindů, excepting Râjas, who are considered which they are honouring the gods and are incarnations of a god, ever think of putting appreciated both by gods and men."
gold on the feet, -the others are frequently of They are brought up in schools, and read and gold. write Marathi fluently. They not only sing but The food of the dancing girls consists genecompose songs as well. They all speak Musal- rally of rice, pulse, vegetables, fruit, and mâni, and a few of them English also. Formerly butter; and of animal food-fish, mutton and when their lovers forsook them they had fowls. Their drink is water, milk, coffee and to go to Pantojis and pay them for writing sometimes liquor. They take two meals a day, letters. But now some of the dancing girls one before twelve and the other before six P.M. do the writing themselves, sometimes filling In the night they are fed at the cost of their their letters with the most obscene expressions, masters on spiced milk, fruit, and sweetmeats, ending with abuse of their mothers, sisters and betelnut leaves, and tobacco--for they are always danghters. Some of the older Naikins are of chewing. They rub lime on the rough side of
