Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19
Gen. Grant in India.
THE SIGHTS OF JEYPORE.


IJohn Russ ell. Ycung's Letter in n Y. Herald
JEYPORE, Feb. 25.-We saw the sights OF Jey-
pore on our urn. There was school or arts
and industry which interested the General very
vels being the industrial customs and the re.
sources Of the country. He would go ten miles
to see new fashioned plough or to avoid see
Ing soldier or gun. The school Is one OF the
Princes fav1rite schemes, and the scholars
showed aptne,s in their work. Tle special
work in which Jeypore exceis is enamelled
jew ery, and some OF the specimens shown
us were exceedingly beautiful and dear. We
Went to the mint and saw the worknen beat
tie coin ard stamp tC. We went to the colIec-
ton Of tigers, aud saw half dozen brutes
each OF whom had a history. Two or three
were man, eaters. One enormous creature
ha kii'ed 2a men before he was taken, and
mother Was In high temper, and roared and
mped and beat The bars OF his cage. He also
was man eater, and am sure that his mani
rstattohs quite cured US OF any ambition to go
Ito the juIg!e-cured all but tic Colonel, whose
C mins CAMPAIGNS IN the tiger couatry are
Il emes Of occasional conversation. On return
ii G to the residency we found a group OF ser
wants fl ON the palace on the veranda, each car
Tying tray laden with sweet meats, nuts,
oranges and other fruits. This was all offering
from the Prince, and 1t was necessary that the
Cereal should touch some Of the fruit aud
taste it and say how much he was Indebted to
his hfghness for the remembrance. Then the
servants marched back to the palace. don't
think that any OF us could have been in
duced to make meal out OF the royal
vandS, not for a considerable part of the
kingdom; but our servants were hanging
around with hungry eyes, and as soon as
the General touched the fruit they swarmed
over the trays and bore away the offerings
The doctor looked at the capture from profess
sioDal point OF view and saw that he would
have worked ahead. The sure consequence Of
present OF sweetneatS from the palace Is that
tie residency servants are Ill for two or three
days. The Maharajah expressed regret
that the general made SO short stay. The
general answered that he came to India late
and was rather pressed for time from the fact
that he wished to see the viceroy before he left
Calcutta, and TO that end had promised to be In
Calcutta on March 10. His Highness then made
a gesture and troop Of dancing girls came
visit to Jeypore Is what is called the Nautch.
The Nautch is sacred affair, danced by Hindoo
girls OF low caste In the presence of the idols
In the palace temple. A group Of girls came
trooping in, under the leadership of an old
fellow with long beard and hard expression
OF face, who might have been the original OF
ments embroidered, Che skirts Com COMPOSED Sec
Of many folds, covered with gold braid
They had ornaments on their heads and
jewels in the side OF the nose. They had plain
faces and carried out the theory of caste, ii
there be anything 10 such theory in the con-
trast between their features and the delicate,
sharply cut lines OF the higher class Brahm!nS
and the other castles who surrounded the
Prince. The girls formed in two lines, third
line was composed of four musicians who per-
formed low, growing kind OF music on un-
earthly instruments. The dancing had no value
In 1t, either as an expression OF harmony, grace
or motion. What it may have been as an act OF
devotion according to the Hindoo faith could
not judge. One OF the girls would advance
step or two and then turn around. Another
would go through the same; This went down
the double nne, the instruments keep
ing up their constant din. have
theory that music, like art, has a mean
ing that Is one of the expressions of the
Character and aspirations OF a people, and
witted race like the Hindoos would not invent
| ceremony and perform it In their temples
without some purpose. The Nautch dance is
meaningless. 1t is not even improper. 1t is
attended by no excitement, no manifestations
Of religious feeling. A group Of coarse, Ill
twisted about, breaking now ana then into a
chorus which added to the din OF the tnstru-
| ments. This was the famous Nautch Dance
which we were to see in Jeypore with amaze
ment, and to remember as one OF the sights In
India. Either as an amusement or a religious
ceremony 1t had no value The Maharajah aud
his court looked On as gloomy as ravens, while
the General wore the resigned expresson-res-
ignatiOn tinted with despair familiar to those
OF his Washington friends who have seen him
listen to an address from the Women's Rights
Association or receive delegation OF Sioux
chiefs. But the scene was striking in many
ways. Here was the courtyard of palace, the
walls traced in fanciful gOssamer-like architec-
ture. Here were walls and galleries, crowded
with court retafne,s, servants, DEFENDANTS
soldiers. Here was the falconer In attendance
On the Prince the falcon perched on his wrist =
fine: road.chested, manly fellow, standing In
attendance, just as have seen In pictures req
resent1ng feGdal manners In early English DAYS
Here was the prime minister, the head of the
Jeyrore government, tall, lank, nobeman ia
features that fancied had Hebrew unes In
them.