532 Colonel Harriot on the Oriental Origin of the Gypseys. 



2. Beria, a dancer or tumbler ; and 

 Berin, a female dancer or songstress. 



3. Bdzi-gar, a player or juggler. 



The two first are Hindi names expressive of their characters ; the third 

 is a Mahomedan, or Urdu appellation, of the same tribe, from the Persian 

 words Bazi ^j\j play, and Gar^ an affix implying an agent. 



The Nat' are skilled in gymnastic exercises, such as wrestling and 

 single-stick ; the use of the Lezam* and Mugdar ;t and in performing the 

 Dand, or gymnastic prostrations ; beside music, dancing, treading a rope, 

 tumbling in all its varieties, playing with balls, swallowing a sword, and a 

 great variety of other feats. The Berin, or female Gypseys, have a dance 

 peculiar to themselves ; it may be danced by a great number, and in former 

 times is said to have been got up with extraordinary expence. 



The following introductory stanza to a war song, called Karlca, of Raja 

 Jai Sing of Canauj, mentions these dances as being exhibited at an enter- 

 tainment in the king's palace ; and then goes on to detail a severe battle 

 fought between the Hindu and Mahomedan forces, some 700 years ago. 



Nachen Berin, jab Banglin men, Tirche bao batae; 



Larke bole kalavat ka ; 



Cham cham, cham cham, pael bole B'hanan b'hanan sitar; 



Aor gat'h lage seringi kii. 



Table tan bige sarka Bangla lioven chalisva rag ; 



Pare ghalichi makhmal vali, K'liamba lage, sang marmarka: 



Banglen bare bare sirdar. 



[hall. 



When the female Gypseys danced in the Exhibiting sly glances ; 



The young musicians struck up, The ankle-bells jingled, 



The guitars sounded. And violins, accompanied [the palace. 



By the tuneful tabor: Then the 36 Ragsff resounded through 



Which, spread over vfilh velvet carpets, Adorned with marble pillars, 

 Was filled with noble chiefs. 



• A kind of bow with an iron chain, instead of a string, with which the natives exercise their 

 bodies. — Hunter. 



\ A large mallet employed by the native soldiers as «e do dumb-bells. Vide Col. Broughton's 

 letters from a Mahratta Camp, for a lively account and representation of these athletic exercises. 



f -)- Rags are the musical modes of the Hindus. 



