Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/283

Rh round a most portentous punch-bowl, filled with a sort of rice beer, from which they freely imbibe. As the day wears on, the always-barbarous music evoked from their bagpipes and drums gets still wilder, till the musicians drop off one by one, and finally sleep the sleep of the intoxicated through the summer night on the spot where they succumbed. But to return to the earlier part of the day. The gaily-dressed girls, resplendent with their shining gold-coloured, or crimson-silk robes and brilliant necklaces of gold, coral, or silver, form a large circle round the musicians, whilst behind the girls, holding hands in a larger circle, the men go through their part of the performance. The dances of the men and of the women differ more than any one would suppose possible, as regards the different motions classed under the term 'dancing.' A well brought-up Khassia maiden of the superior class is taught that the very perfection of dancing is to go the round of the circle with the smallest possible amount of movement : not even an eyelid is to be lifted, her hands are to hang down by her side, and her feet are to be rigidly placed together, knees and ankle-bones touching each other. In this position she wriggles round the circle with a curious heel-and-toe motion, occasionally solemnly and slowly pirouetting round. When she comes to a stand-still, and drops out of the line, one has a curious feeling that her difficult machinery has broken down. Not a smile, not a glance, not an unauthorised move- ment of hand or foot even, jars on the social sensibilities of the Khassia matron, who, wizened and weird, watches the proceedings, with the keenest interest, stepping forward occasionally to adjust flower or crown, or place a piece of betel in the mouth of her especial charge, the deadly slowness of whose movements renders all such delicate attentions comparatively easy. There seems to be no special order as to the time in the music at which a girl may turn round on her own axis. My impression always was, that they kindly did so to allow the bachelors in the outer ring the privilege of a good look at the matrimonial aspirants. The men amply compensated for the unexcited quietude and repose of the girls by the wildness of their special performances. They jig,