CHAPTER VII. 



THE NAUTCH. 



The nautch : its fascinations.— Indian dancing-girls. — Oriental 

 eyes.— Tlieir dress and jewels. — Soaping the begum. — Indian 

 jugglers and their tricks.— The celebrated man go -tree. — The 

 sacrifice to Bowain. — Explanation. — The doctor's wonder. 



" Xo treacherous powder bids conjecture quake, 

 No stiff starch'd stays make meddling fingers ache ; 

 No damsel faints when rather closely press'd, 

 But more caressing seems when most caress'd." 



— Byron. 



As we entered the garden or compound round the 

 bungalow we found great preparations had been 

 made for the nautch. The verandah was enclosed all 

 round with fine mat tatties or screens, behind which 

 tiie begum and her attendants sat, and through 

 which they could see the performance without being 

 exposed to the gaze of the public. In front were 

 placed about a dozen chairs, the centre ones being 

 left vacant for us, and the others occupied by the 

 native officers of the detachment. In the centre of 

 a large circle of troopers, sepoys, camp-followers 

 villagers, and attendants, who were seated in rows 



