The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-12

number of natives, AIMED with mos
curiousloOking musical instruments
squatted upon the stage, and began in
low monotOnous strains q HindOo ca
cred song, all joining in with solemn
tones in voices that were so nasal as Al
first almost to offend tho ear, but soon
the notes became SO plaintive that, des
pite the want of tune which characterized
the whole performance, they gradually
led my mind into . reverie, and sat to
tally absorbed in the thoughts tina,
crowded upon me. Several solos fol.
lowed, the language used being San.
skirt they consisted of recitals Of tales
Of war, deeds, interpreted probably
with Jokes or puns, for At times the ma
tive part Of the audience would smile or
nod approvingIy to one another this
was particularly the case when one old
fellow, dressed in . gown like Roman
toga, with . wreath bound around his
forehead, looking much like Julius
Cesar, squatted in front on the plat
form, and with his eyes fixed on Gen.
Grant, began IN . loud, monotonous,
highly nasal voice, . song or poem,
keeping time with his fingers upon his
knees, accompanied by an instrument
like violin and . drum, consisting of
wood, and beaten by the fingers Of the
artist. In an instant, At . word from
our host, the musicians disappeared, and
from the opposite end of the room, q
number of dance girls entered, land took
their places in tho middle Of the room,
and the guests forming Q circle around
them. was again disappointed in the
native dance; for those that We have
seen possessed neither the merit Of
beauty nor of grace.
After the dance was over We were in
vited to witness the feature of the en-
from the balcony. told
you that the avenue along which we
drove when coming in was q mass OF
lights. Directly in front of the house
was q pond, about 100 feet square, en-
circled with the same curious figures Of
lamps that lighted the avenue, each one
reflected from the water. While gazing
upon this pretty scene, q great noise
was heard, becO ming louder and louder
as it approached. Coming down the
avenue, horns and trumpets, drums, with
human voices more discordant than the
themselves. Soon, directly
beneath the balcony, to the edge Of the
water, comes the mass of beings, more
like demons than human creatures, pre-
coded by creatures fantastica!ly dressed,
with huge trumpets, with dragons
torches, enormous fans, waving
-, he In ka
Der of mad beings kept up wild dance,
swinging arms and legs, with bells and
gongs. These latter were dressed in
but walst-cloth, and their dark bodies,
their hair streaming down about their
their faces wild with excite
ment, made the spectacle almost . hor-
rible one. Another procession, some
what OF the same sort, followed, and
others in succession, until upon the banks
of the lake the mass of beings reminded
one of the great Inferno. A part of
these wild creatures embarked IN fan
tastic low boat, and in measured time,
kept marked by the dipping of the pad
dies, rowed around the lake, which was
now highly illuminated by the lights
from the shore. This Was really the
most extraordinary scene that India
could show, as it was meant TO illustrate
the religious procession of India, about
which you have, no doubt, heard 80
much. The evenings enjoyment was
now ended by series OF tableaux in
the Palace Theatre, illustrative Of scenes
in HIndoo mythology. All the parts
we're taken by natives, and they were
really very well done and the effects
good. Several large dinner parties, re.
,eptions, a garden party, and great
leal of shopping, kept US we'll occupied
Turing the remainder OF our visit here.
But the heat was so oppressive as to
make us all sigh for homo.