The Newtown bee., 1880-12-01
Dancing Girls from India.

There arrived recently in New York a troupe of dancing girls, musicians and | jugglers from India. There are fifteen persons in the company, five women and l ten men. A he women are some of the principal performers of India, and be- | long to the only class of women in that country who are taught to read and write. The oldest is called Bhooribai, and is twenty-six years old. She is one of the principal dancers. Sahebjhan, l the chief dancer, is eighteen, and is one of the greatest performers in India. These two belong to the famous temple dancers. No Maharaiah ever entertains guest without giving one of these dancers. The Nautch dance, as it is l called, is also feature of all religious and holiday festivals. The other women are Vageirbai, age fifteen; Ala Bundi, aged fourteen, and Oondabai, the youngest, age twelve. These women live in different parts of India. They speak no English, and are the first Mohammedans who ever came to the I United States from India. The men are l Abdoolally Esmai]jee, manager of 8 Bombay theater and manager of this company during their visit; Goolam- hoosan, Oomerkhan two Hindoos-the only ones in the company-by the name of Balaya; Imambarkha, Khaioolalla, Subrung and Moobarie Oomerkhan ie one of the best of Indian jugglers. Ons ofthe Balayas is 8 knife player. He jug, gles with long knives, keeping 8 large number circling about his head at one time. Subrung is a very fine singer Imambarkha is 8 snake charmer. He brings with him two cobra di capellos scorpion and a little animal called 8 mongoose, which is used to stir up the l opoIoc if hoinp uaru boofilo to +ho,,, One of the Balayas cooks food for both as Hindoos will not eat Mohammedar food nor will Mohammedans eat Hindoe food. These men never dance, but they sing and play upon their native instru. i ments while the women go through their peculiar movements.
 The beauty of these women is 8 mat ter of taste. In India they are consid- cred very handsome. Sahebjhan is the darkest, but is greatly admired in her own country; Three of the women art married. They all bear themselves modestly. They wear satin vest which satin trousers reaching nearly to tho ankles. Over all they throw tho "Sahri," 8 long gauge cloak. They l wear rings on their fingers and toes strings Of pearls about their ears ano ankIets and nose-rings of solid silver They wear diamonds, as these stone: are not fashionable in India. It was very difficult to get these people together and to persuade them to leave theil country. Just before starting they con ceived the idea that they were coming to America to be sacrificed at a festi l val, and almost refused to come. They were gathered from the neighborhooC of Allahbad and some other Indian cities, where there are great bathing tanks. Their chief duty at home is tt participate in festivals. The first ranl of these women is never permitted tt leave the temples without the permission of the priests. They all reverence a their special patron and protectress tn holy mother, Bhowanee, who is sup posed to be the most beautiful dancer il the paradise of the Hindoo religion Their dances do not resemble wha Americans call dances. They consist 0 1.-the and graceful wnirling, marvelou in it's quickness. and also of mysti weaving and subtle pantomimic contor tioDs explained by their songs. Thei dances have meaning, and the senti ment of them is always made plain They cover 8 wide range of subjects They have on e dance which represent railway train, and the chatter of tn engine is heard all through it, The bes of these women are chosen from tn highest caste of Indians; the next i rank are of the Sudra families, or mer cantile caste.