350 THE EASTERN HUNTERS. 



It is most nourishing. See, I will have yet another 

 glass in honour of the Sahibs. Very warm and 

 heart-rejoicing it is," he added, after finishing a 

 second glass. " Give joy to my heart by taking 

 some more." 



Thus entreated, poor Mac, with a wry face, again 

 applied himself to the unpalatable liquor, and took 

 another sip ; but by a dexterous manosuvre ma- 

 naged to upset the greater part on to his pocket- 

 handkerchief. 



The preliminary tuning up of the instruments 

 and the trial notes of the girls having been now 

 satisfactorily completed, the host asked his guests 

 if it was their pleasure to witness the performance. 

 Receiving an answer in the affirmative, he gave a 

 sign, and the nautch commenced. 



One girl first led off and advanced to the front ; 

 then having retreated, the other came forward and 

 in like manner resumed her place. This was done 

 to the strains of music issuing from a small one-sided 

 drum which was fixed in the waistcloth and beaten 

 with the fingers and two string instruments, some- 

 thing between a fiddle and a banjo, of the nature 

 of both of which they in a measure partook. 



To western ideas, conversant with waltz and 

 galop, the nautch appears very tame. The per- 

 formers glided along in a monotonous way, jingling 



