Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/269

LANGHANS.

The beauty of the caravan she heard her maidens praise;

Jam Puulia there stood eminent, O! why came she to gaze?

Her eyes on his, his eyes on hers; what wine could thus inspire?

'Twas war, attack without defence, a sharp exchange of fire.

The spears of love made havoc round, for branish'd well were they;

Old Prudence fled from Love, and Love right bravely won the day.

Lahotis, reckless, careless they, threw counsel to the winds,

The guardian cords of wisdom snapt, nought else their passion binds;

Affrighted Patience fled, for sense had lost Reflection's aid.

The victory to Sasani came, in myriad griefs arrayed.

Not all unshared, yet hard to bear, alas I from conquering maid.

Two groups of minstrels are given; in the first picture, No. 334, the boy and one of the men may be singing, the other is playing upon a pipe made out of a gourd, with keyholes below. It has a sweet soft tone, and in India is only used by serpent charmers.

In the second group the three minstrels are playing; the centre one on a small flageolet, the man on the left on a sitar, which has wire strings and frets, and the man on the right on a drum, which he plays with his fingers as an accompaniment to the other instruments. The general effect is not unpleasing, and some of the airs have pretty and plaintive melody.