Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 6.djvu/296

 DANCING GIRL. (340)

HE principal class of dancing women in Sind is called Kanyari. Each has her own house, and is usually married pro formâ to one of her musicians; but all are courtezans. Dancing women attend, as an indispensable part of the ceremony, all festive rejoicings public and private, and are rewarded according to their skill and reputation. A first-rate performer will expect as much as a hundred rupees (£10) for an evening's performance, and few fall below ten rupees, or £1. Very frequently the master of the feast calls up a girl with whom he has been pleased, and gives her a few rupees. She then goes round the company, and frequently collects a large sum, as it is a point of etiquette for every one to give something. As the Kanyari amass money, they invest it in gold and silver ornaments, and thus some of them acquire large properties which descend to their successors. They are generally well and handsomely dressed, and are very clean in their persons; nor are they much addicted to intoxication, considering the lives they lead. No women in Sind are, however, more particular in the observance of religious rites and ceremonies.

The figure represented is in undress. She wears the ordinary under shift embroidered, full loose trousers, and a scarf over all. On her arms are the curious ivory rings, which reach from the wrist nearly to the elbow, and are worn instead of the glass bangles used by the women of India. These ivory rings are common to most classes of women in Sind, and are similar to those worn only by Brinjaree women in India. On her ancles she has heavy gold or silver bangles, worn over her trousers.