Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/286

 MOHANA WOMEN. (338)

MOHANA WOMAN. (338-2)

HESE Mohma women are courtezans common to the tribe of which an account has been given in the preceding chapter, the immoral conduct of the women of which has been noticed. It does not follow, however, that Mohanas do not marry, on the contrary many or most have wives, but these are courtezans notwithstanding. They are not, however, dancers and singers like the public nautch girls, who are quite separate from them, and form a class of their own. The Photograph 338 gives a very characteristic group of the Mohana women, and the centre figure is not without personal attractions. Their costumes are as follows: The centre figure is dressed in a red scarf of fine transparent muslin, barred with gold thread, and edged with a broad gold tissue border. This is worn over a full gown or tunic of red muslin, and she has trousers undenieath. The figure on the right wears a dark red saree picked out with green. That on the left a light pink scarf over a pink shift. They have all fair complexions with black eyes. Two of them wear the nuth, or nose ring, common to the country.

Plate 338-2 is that of a simple figure, who wears a scarf of brown colour with a black pattern, red loose trousers, and yellow slippers. She also has the nose ring with gold ear-rings and necklaces. Sindee women do not appear to wear bracelets or bangles.