Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-10-10
THE NAUTCH DANCERS.
American Eyes see aa Indian RriiK.
ious Ceremony.

N'i'uf' ~. HnNaN.
As We approached Madras nnd fol
one SAW iulia for the first time, the
great rosy sun was rising ont of the sea
clongatng Itself. then springing Rloit
slay.ng the darkness the old serpent
Ain with storm of snnbeams, ami
the colors of dawn. breaking over an
ocean that knows no twilight, trans
mu;ng every wave to opal, illumincd
many remembered rapture Of the
Ncdas. Carried ashore ON boat madr
OF hamboos tiel together with strings
of palm bark, no nal IN il, O good sur
vi'al iruln Nedlc times. found further
and more interesting if less SAT. tfactory
reelection of tho alored sun IN front
of small but very ancient tomplo near
the market place. \ procession Of the
poor was 'orue aud IA deity was pres
emily seated on their palanluin. II twas
Sri, aister-goddcss of prosperity, and
she sat n round red and golden frame,
surrounded with tongues OF flame rep
reScn,ing the sun. Tho great disc was
based on a chariot drawn by five metal
horses, green and rcd, driven by Aruna
the legless phaeton Of Hindu fable who
ought to have seven horses painted
with colors OF the rainbow. | was the
only white per Oh present. and as the
managers Of the affair were polite.
making an opening through the
crowd that | might see the Nautch
dancers, followed with them through
the streets for fifteen minutes. Three
times the three Nautches danced before
the goddess. The general movement
of the procession was to the beating of
tom toms and music Of pipes much like
bagpipes In sound. But every now and
then leading parsonage turned and
gave II fine tinkling stroke or two on n
metal cup which he held, whoreupon
the procession paused. the palanquin
was let down from the mems shoulders
and rested on the ground, all other in
struments ceased anI man began n
chant, accompanying himself with
tinkle of the fine metal cup.
Then the Nautches began their
dance. There we're three OF them.
They were naked at the waist. but care
fully and as richly dressed in the an
cient Aryan costume. They were all
young and covered with jewels. Their
dance was not meant to be graceful, but
mystical. 1t was mainly with their
hands AMI fingers that they danced; so
Jar as the feet were concerned they
moved to and fro. Their jewcled hands
were continually moving, the fingers
sometimes crossed only, at others
stretched out, as if in benediction. we're
yet never raised heavenward.
This morning ! went out at I
O'clock to the same temple. The
! god brought out on this occa-
sion was Gunesa, the elephant headed
deity. He was mounted on the same
sun chariot, drawn by the five metal
horses twhose attitudes reminded me OF
those of st. Marks in Venice. Two
poles upheld large red hearts. with sun
and moon featured embroidered on
them, and there were two large UNI
brellas. On this occasion there were
five Nautches, three Of whom were girls
Of 3 or 10 years. The little things
watched their leader and initiated her
every movement. Tho dance, interest
ing as novelty, was quito perfunctory
there was not even any emotion, much
less ecstasy or passion about II. When
the dancers and the god camo out Of the
temple, beneath an arch OF palm
branches, they were preceded by very
fair woman, who bore in her hand q
large brass pot, on the top Of which q
flame was burning. When the pro
cession started she moved back into the
temple and we saw her no more.