Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-08-01

| girls of INDIA.
The Nantchnees' establishment was
a curious building surrounded by n
high wall. We entered through a
gate, and were ut once conducted
by couple Of old women, across n
paved courtyard planted all around
with the mongree, oleander and tall
red and white rose trees. Passing this
we were introduced into a great hare
hall, with low seats ranging around
the walls, curtained all along the far
ther end Of the room, into which inner
chambers seemed TO open. Here wo
took our places. One of the old
women stayed by ms, while the other
went ON 10 announce our visit 10 the
head lady II the establishment.
The great slave markets which We
have all read SO much about, where
tender young girls are bought and sold
as il they were cattle, no longer exist
in British India, but the amount of
traffic Of the kind that is still carried
ON is incredible, although the fact Is
vigorously denied by both the buyer
and seller. In many cases these
Nautchnees are not bought, but hired
Tlor term OF years, for money paid
not TO the girls themselves but 10 their
parents or friends. In the course OF
time the parents die or move away,
and the girl, after having given her
best days TO her employer, finds her
self without money, friends or socialties
aud is glad enough TO spend the re.
mainder Of her life in instructing the
younger members OF the establish
ment Of which, with the fidelity so
natural to oriental women, she consid-
ers herself a member, and, therefore,
bound for life to promote its interests.
After n few minutes Saidah Bebe
came in 10 greet the Lady kesineh,
salaamed most deferentially TO us and
took her place ON the floor She was
a woman OF about fifty years and n
native of Afghanistan, tall and finely
formed. She spoke OF difficulty in
securing respectable young girls TO
fill the places of those who ran away,
were sold to certain rich admirers for
wives or concubines, or died. II
would appear that the lowest, or Cuban
class is fast diminishing On my ques-
tioning the old lady about the average
life of the Nautchnees she could give
mc no estimate, but intimated very
decidedly that they generally died
young
AT my special request we were
shown into the exercising room and
almost over the entire establishment.
There were over 100 girls, OF ali ages
and shades OF complexion, from dark
brown to pale, delicate olive, going
through their exercises ut the time.
The hall was composed OF bamboo
trelis work, and was light, spacious
and niry enough. From the roof hung
all sorts Of gymnastic apparatus, rude,
but curious--ropes TO which the girls
clung as they whirled around
on tsp-tOe wheels on which they
we're made to walk in order 10
learn peculiar dance called "chakra-
ne" (from "ciialS," wheel) slip knots
into which they lasted one arm or one
leg, thus holding it motionless while
they exercise the other; cups, revOlv-
ing balls, which they sprang up to
,atch, and heaps OF fragile cords, with
which they spin round and round, and
( any one OF these snap under too
great pressure they are punished,
,hough not severely.
Altogether, il WIS streg ge sight.&
Most OF the girls from 10 TO II had on
lothing but short tight pair OF draw
RS the older ones had tight, short
'leeved bodices in addition 70 tho
and those Under 10 were
naked. They were oil good looking;
few here and there were beautiful.
The delicate and refined outlines of
heir features, the solt TINT OF their
-ich complexions, the dreamy express
on of their dark, quiet eyes, added to
,reat symmetry OF form, made them
fascinating.
The teachers were all middle-aged
women, some OF whom looked prema-
urely old.
The dormitories in this establish
nent were bare rooms; the girls slept
m mats or cushions on tie floor. Each
Iad n lota, or drinking cup, little
mirror, and native box in which 10
,eep her clothes. The more finished
nd accomplished Nautchnees had
ooms TO themselves | went T. one
( these. 1t Was matted and very
imply furnished. The tier of boxes in
ghich her Jewels and robes were kept,
cot, few brass lotas, fans, cojas, or
'ater holders, with some tiny looking
lasses ranged along the wall--and this
1as all
| inquired for the beautiful Nautch-
ee who had interested me. Her name
fas Khangce; she was Soodahee by
irth. The Soodahs nre n military
nee or tribe inhabiting parts OF the
rovince OF Clutch; they find the chief
Tealth in the beauty OF their daugh-
era, and for one of the Soodahnees n
ch Mohammedan will pay from
| 900 to 10000. Rajahs, wealthy
merchants, and propri-
tors OF dancing girls often dispatch
leir emissaries TO Clutch, KabOol,
ashmere and Rajpootna in search oil
women. The fame Of Cash
lerian and Soodah women has spread
II and wide, and often some beautiful
reature is picked up out OF the how
Is OF Thur, Body or Cashmere and
to the gorgeous ponpt OF
royal sharem. The Rajpoots inter.
larry with the Soodah and Cashmere
and being naturally d hand
,me race, they have preserved by this
leans that physical beauty Of which
ICY dtC oo JActiJ PAVho.
Very little WIS known of Khnngec's
story beyond the fact that she was
oodahnee by birth. She was bought
an early age from her parents, who
ere poor ana occupied a hovcl in the
llage Of Thur in Clutch, and sold to
lis establishment when in her seventh
BAR, ald was almost MS ignorant Of
lrent,ge as n newly born babe. At
Ie time Of our visit she had been
red with party OF Nautehnees TO
sist in the marriage celebration
hieh wits TO take place nj the house
a rich Bunyan, or Hindoo mer-
lant
These Nautchness often marry well
I'd become chaste wives aud mothers
large families. Tire four requisites
r n Nautchnee are bright eyes, fine
eth, long hair and a perfect SYM
etry Of form and feature. A small
ack mole between tlhe eyebrows or
J either cheek will enhance hcr value
an extraordinary degree.
Attorney Morgan Browns Lack caahed
Il has been ascertained that Morgan