Page:Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2.djvu/172

DEVA-DASI Madras. "But among dancing-girls," Mayne writes,* " it is customary in Madras and Western India to adopt girls to follow their adoptive mother's profession, and the girls so adopted succeed to their property. No particular ceremonies are necessary, recognition alone being sufficient. In the absence, however, of a special custom, and on the analogy of an ordinary adoption, only one girl can be adopted." In Calcutta and Bombay these adoptions by dancing-girls have been held invalid.† Of proverbs relating to dancing-girls, the following may be quoted: —


 * (1) The dancing-girl who could not dance said that the hall was not big enough. The Rev. H. Jensen gives ‡ as an equivalent "When the devil could not swim, he laid the blame on the water."


 * (2) If the dancing-girl be alive, and her mother dies, there will be beating of drums; but, if the dancing-girl dies, there will be no such display. This is explained by Jensen as meaning that, to secure the favour of a dancing-girl, many men will attend her mother's funeral; but, if the dancing-girl herself dies, there is nothing to be gained by attending the funeral.


 * (3) Like a dancing-girl wiping a child. Jensen remarks that a dancing-girl is supposed to have no children, so she does not know how to keep them clean. Said of one who tries to mend a matter, but lacks experience, and makes things worse than they were before.


 * (4) As when a boy is born in a dancing-girl's house. Jensen notes that, if dancing-girls have children, they desire to have girls, that they may be brought up to their own profession.