The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15
l N d / A..
Tn, Land Of the White Elephant and lis
Manners and CUSTOMS
DANCERS, TGGLERS AND SNAKE CHARNERS.

tons and six maps New York: Scribner Arm
strong & Co
The letter press far from being tho least part or
This gorgeousiy gotten up volume. Without one OF
i,s 3l7 illustrations and without beautiful binding
This book would command wide attention. IL was
published first in lie Tobv du Monde where it's excel
lences attracted universal notice aud all England
is now agitaed the subject OF India he book was
translated aud given in it's entirety in English Tho
Prince Of Wales takes fifty copies OF II to India with
him as presents the princes and chiefs They Will
be hard to please II they NOT delighted with this
Straightforward, graphic and carefully prepared &C
count OF his travels through their native land by NJ.
Rousselet IL is not often that cares 10 read so
elegant and formidable looking q volume as this.
Bat he who reads the FIRST chapter viii
keep on TO tho last NJ. Rousselet travelled
with his owes open He everything
that was 10 be seen and learned than fifty ord
nary travellers His book reads more like tale OF
adventures out OF the 'Araban Nights than record
OF facts The Arabian night illusion Is kept up by the
wonderful illustrations Those by Emil Bayard are in
that gifted Frenchmans best style. They are not to
be compared with ordinary book illustrations for they
are finished pictures. The grouping and whole effect
suggest color 10 wonderful degree and make one
greet that they not to be perpctuated canvas.
India delightful country read about but must be
unpleasant account Of the heat and reptiles
whose slightest bite is deadly poison. NJ. Roussclct
describes q might in Mazagon which must have
been 10 say the least, uncomfortable. This
place is remarkable for its serpcnts No pre-
caution is OF avail 10 keep these reptiles out
OF the house. and you cannot go out OF doors without
running the risk OF setting foot on one OF them Tho
vegetation also large number Of insects, and
nghtfa there arises every side noisy concert
a thousand little crickets, grasshoppers and
other insects that unaccustomcd gives the
effect OF piercing and continuous cry. Add TO this
the frequent asscmbaees OF iackals near your house
striking up their melancholy strains which all tho
parah dogs in the neghborhood think themselves
bound to respond and you will have some idea OF the
sublime tranquility OF tho night in this
favored town Il recommend it, however,
says the author, ITO the enthusiastic natu-
ralist, for beside tho mosquitoes which here
OF remarkable size, she will have the pleasure OF
the company vicinity Of the bandycoot rat which is
Of monstrous size; the musk rat an inonensive
animal bat not agreeable 10 nervous people account
OF its smell and us sharp cries the enormous bull frog,
whose voice jus,ies the name IL bears and also The
indian vampire, called here the flying fox The latter
one Of the most singular animals in the country. IL
an immense bat, with black wings spreading more
than icet its body with thick reddish
ur and ts head with pointed muzzo and sharp teeth
flying thousands about the fruit trees raising
LrI cries; and is no occurrence for them to
ay waste orchard IN single night" In a land
where bat flying a church Of a evening
sends the entire congregation down under the pew
cannot but sympathize with the brave soul
who goes India TO battle with thousand bats and
they bigger than hawks.
one of the things NJ Roussclct did upon arriving
in India procure a servant, for although hotel
charges high you have attendance but that
which you supply. People even take a servant when
they 20 dine table OF friend otherwise they
run a risk OF getting nothing eat each servant
attends his master only. The limo is very
widely drawn between tho various duties Of servant
For instance man who attends to busting the furni
would not wait at table, would the valet dust
The furniture For this every household has
m immense retinuc OF servants which, in the country
makes quite little settlement The houses occupied
by the Europeans, and built in the tropical STYLE
called bungalows But alas fashion has found its way
even India and many OF the houses or the Euro
peans built Of brick stone the modern Styles
The native architecture is beautiful The palaces and
temples though III y had dropped from the
clouds, delicate and fairyllke are they.
The principal amuscments India are dancing Jug.
rlery aud lights between beasts and between men.
Dancing carried wonderful degree OF perfection,
The nnest nautch NJ. Rousseet attended was given in
honor Of the birthday Of little son or rich Balliah
Purbutt Lalii on the night in question tho street.
was brilliantly Illuminated, awning from which SUI
pcrb lamps suspended os far az the door
then a mountain Of flowers was piled up-a regular
wa-behind which a noisy Portuguese orchestra was
concealed on my approach, says the writer they
struck up military march and Purbutt advanced to
receive me. Taking me BY the hand, he conducted mo
into grand apartment where the nsutch % take
place. Large mirrors reflected the light OF
thousand lus,rcs; rich carpets and sofas,
spread With cashmeres covered the ground
and the magnificent costumes Of the guests
and the numbers 81 waving fans gave 10 the
scene tina, theatrical appearance OF which the Orcntas
are 80 passonatcy fond. took my scat continues NJ
Rousscet, a soft divan and was Immediately sur.
rounded BY servants, who offered me sherbcts and
fruit. and sprinklcd with rosc~atcr from great
silver isgons few PAGES from me the bayadtrcs
crouching down near their musicians aud awaiting the
signal for the dance. formed striking group These
lovely girls with pale compilations and largo blacl,
eyes covered with diamonds precious sufs looked
cooly and without any appearance of curiosity
Most ofthc guests having arrived, host introduced
u TO his son, child OF eight years Of age ia whose
honor he giving the fse These formaes 1, an end
be seated himself by and gave the signal. There
upon the dancers rose up; unfolding their scarf,
and shaking their plated skirts they caused the bell
10 voratc which we're fastened around their ankles
the form Of bracelets and winch served TO mark tn
time After a preliminary chorus accompanied b.
yios and tomoms, they Termed a cmi-crce and 0
them advanced close 20 us. with rounded arms mn
her veil noatng she turned herself slowly around will
gentle quiverng Of the body, as TO make her bell
rosound tho music. soft and languishipg seemed 4
ull her senses and with eyes half closed she
loah casping 10 her amorous embrace some invisible
being All thus played their parts In sue
cession-onc fcigning herself serpent charmei
Or lu,c player; another ardent and mpas
stoned, bounding and wtirlng round with rapidty
while another, adorned With elegant cap cmbroid
rcd With pearls addressed with strange gestures
md followed the music with coquettish movement oi