THE PRINCE OF WALES AT MADRAS, 1875. 27 



to regain their chance of the prizes, though to lookers-on they 

 mi^ht have been battling for their lives. As well try to drown 

 a walrus as a Madras boatman. 



If I am right in saying the illumination of the surf was one 

 of the most interesting sights of the week, I may venture the 

 opinion that the entertainment at the Pandal (or Paundal) was 

 one of the dullest. Curious it was certainly, especially for one 

 new to the country ; but it was neither exciting in itself nor 

 calculated to give one an elevated idea of the manner in which 

 the natives take their pleasure. Possibly, though, their im- 

 pressions might be somewhat similar with regard to us were 

 they taken to see one of our favourite burlesques ; so perhaps 

 the less we say on this head the better. They did their best, 

 and they showed their loyalty bravely. 



But when the Prince had taken his seat on the raised platform 

 prepared for him (the golden fans set waving over his head), 

 and the nautch at last began, it was certainly more calculated 

 to soothe the weary spectators off into peaceful slumbers than to 

 rouse them from the state of lethargy already produced by the heat 

 and crowded room. Nothing could be more monotonous than 

 the slow dancing of the nautch girls, as, holding in their hands 

 coloured ropes suspended from the ceiling, they revolved round 

 and round, and in and out, plaiting the ropes into a pattern in 

 the course of their evolutions. The music which accompanied 

 this performance reminded one forcibly of a fair at home : a 

 feeble violin and one or two penny trumpets squeaked through 

 a seemingly endless repetition of "Bonnie Dundee" till the 

 dance was concluded. Then came forward a premiere danseuse 

 in gorgeous garments and much-bejewelled nose and ears, to 

 execute a pas seul. To the uninitiated she appeared to be 

 suffering from a succession of fits, throwing herself down first 

 on one side, then on the other, and indulging in a series of 

 jerks and shivers that were anything but graceful to witness. 

 However, so pleased was she with her own performance that it 

 was somewhat difficult to induce her to stop, and the Prince was 

 obliged to take refuge in the supper room for a short interval 



