The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-03
A JavaneSe Dance.


MS to the private palace, in which his
family reside. Apologizing for his
wffe's absence by reason of indispo-
sition, he placed us in the centre of a
spacious and lofty hall, softly lighted
with tinted globe lamps, and graced
with a curious medley Of portraits OF
European celebrities-amoDg them
the Prince of Wales, the Queen of the
Netherlands, Jenny Lind. and Lola
Montez. We were the orly guests.
A band of twenty five native musi-
clans was stationed OH the porch.
Hundreds Of the peasantry Bandong
crowded the guard in front. The
musicians played, in low tone, n
recitative accompaniment. Soon after
this began, four "bayadercs," one
after the other, glided into the room,
with movement in harmony with
the music. They were apparently
eighteen years of age, and had that
I" golden" complexion which in the
East is the highest type of beauty.
The regent explained that the bay
adcre" amusement was derived from
the ancient Hindoos. The costume
of the performers has the same origin.
1t consists of a long, scant scarlet
skirt, fastened above the waist, and
falling in folds quite over the bare
feet. A stiffencd band of scarlet and
gold, ten inches wide, is drawn tight
ly about the waist, fitting just under
the shoulder blades, leaving the arms
and shoulders entirely bare. The
Daonturc was q banishet helmet. Won
dering at this barbaric magnitcencc,
Mr.. Seward asked the regent whether
the helmet was gilded. He quickly
answered III Javanese, that not. only
the helmet, but also the heavy girtllc,
the bracelets, and anklcts were Of solid
gold, and added, in English, "Cali-
tornia." Three ballets were performcd;
! it was not difficult to understand the
spirit Of each. The first, gay and JOY
Gus, represented Il nuptial ceremony
the second, energetic and vigorous a
battle with ambuscade, surprise,
struggle, and victory the third, deep
toned and measured, funeral page
ant. The dancing consisted of slow
and varied posturing and extravagant
gesticulation, to the broken and i'm
perfect time of the wild music. The
"bayaderos were not the only per-
formers Of the evening. There were
two dwarfs, the eldest thirty years
old, well proportioned and agile, and
a counterpart Of Tom Thumb. In the
other, the peculiar Malay figure and
features were exaggerated to absolute
deformity. Fhe regent took especial
enjoyment in this lusus nature, and
laughed immoderately at the little
creatures big head and handy legs.
We, who at home are more panied
than pleased by the exhibitions Of
General Tom Thumb and his Lilipu-
tian wife, could not sympathize here
with the barbarian prince. It was
with difficulty that we suppressed onr
disgust when the pitiable dwarfs were
put forward as harlequins in the his
torical pantomilnes which the "baya-
deres" were executing.
Dwarfs here remain the same i'm
portant personages they were in Eu-
ropean courts three hundred years
ago. We ought to have mentioned
that the Radhe Adepathe maintains
seven of them.
The performance Of the night had a
very pleasing interlude. While the
artistes were resting in the intervals,
the guard at the door opened the way
to chorus of peasants. They exc
cuted a grotesque dance, which gave
unbounded delight, not only to our
selves, but to the unbidden native
spectators outside. In the midst of
this diversion, two children of the
regent. girls of four and five, and very
small, came in with their attendants,
dressed ir queenly satan robes and
jewels. He presented them to us with
manifest pride, and, although they
trembled during the ceremony, they
performed their little parts with all
the formality Of women.--Seward's
Irarels. =
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