New-York tribune., 1910-04-03
Doncfn1 as an Honorable
ProfeSsion for Girls
TO FoEoSU.
CHAPTER VII.

TN Southern India girls belonging 20 AL
4 castes-high and low-are brought up to
- the profession OF dancing. They are
usually dedicated TO some temple, and are not
allowed TO marry, though often nominal
marriage ceremony is carried out between
the girl and the presiding deity Of the
temple. Girls of the higher castles some
times are sent TO these shrines in conse-
quence Of a VOW. Their father. high
caste Hindu, will, perhaps. in time OF sick
ness or trouble. make a promise 20 give one
of his daughters TO the service of some
particular temple, to be brought up as a
dancing girl, and this VOW is always scrup-
ulously observed
The dancing girls attached to these
shrines are called Thassee. The profession
desCends from mother to daughter. or
rather-as often these people have no chill
dren Of their own-by adoption Their
training begins at the early age Of five
Each day for two hours before daylight
they practise their trade, giving one hour
to dancing and one to singing. The same
thing is done again later in the day-from
to s in the afternoon. So each girl prac-
tises four hours daily. BY the end OF three
years she is supposed to have learned her
business.
The girls generally begin to perform about
the age OF eight, and continue dancing, II
not rendered unfit by disease or premature
old age. till they are between thirty and
forty. They receive wages from the tenn
ple to which they are attached, varying
with its wealth and sanctity. The money
they receive, however is only nominal, sell
dom exceeding few shillings MONTH and
this is only given TO show that they are
70
belong. In addition to this they receive one
meal a day, consisting of a bowl of boiled
rice. They are required 10 dance six
times a day at the temple. while the priests
are officiating but this duty is performed
by turns
Although their official remuneration is so
small. dancing girls make a good thing out
Of the worshippers who come to the shrine.
The girls are generally wealthy and ap-
pear covered with gold ornaments, or. II
poor. with tinsel or borrowed gold trinkets.
Their heads. necks, arms. noses and ears.
fingers. ankles and toes are loaded with
Jewels. and they wear Chaplets of flowers
in their hair Their dancing costume con-
sists of a short packet and trousers or silk
and 4 white or colOred muslin wrapper,
part OF which is allowed TO hang free IN
'front.' and is elabOrately Ornamented with
gold thread or tinsel. Just beneath the
ankle OF each foot is tied string Of small
brass bells, which tinkle as the girl dances
In private life they wear the jacket and
v,ranper. with a kind OF pettiCoat Of chintz
or silk.
The profession OF dancing girl Is re-
garded as an honorable one, and the
dancer is allowed 10 sit down in the pres
ence of men OF high caste. privilege
which is not allowed 10 their own wives
and daughters. These girls are fairly well
educated for Indian women Most Of them
can read and write their own language.
and some even know other languages.
They are taught to read and write these
different tongues, not for the sake OF edu-
cation, but In order that they may more
easily learn the songs they have 10 sing.
These songs are usually in praise OF their
several idols, and are full OF repetitions
and unmeaning expletives. while with these
the girls internix impudent fattery of
those present in order 10 make the song
acceptable TO the spectators.
People who are desirous OF having these
girls give a performance in heir own
houses or outside the precincts Of the tenn
pie CAM usually obtain their services by
paving a large sum of money. The hir-
ing price depends on the Importance OF the
temple and the position OF the girls. Some
Of the most skilful and popular ones can
practically dx their own price. and some
OF them Will not condescend to perform be-
fore any one OF lower rank than rajah.
IN the Sierra Leone district OF western
Africa Is a secret society known as