of the Old World. 109 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE NAUTCH. 



The Nautch : its fascinations. Indian dancing-girls. Oriental 

 eyes. Their dress and jewels. Soaping the Begum. Indian 

 jugglers and their tricks. The celebrated mango-tree. The 

 sacrifice to Bovvain. Explanation. The Doctor's wonder. 



" No treacherous powder bids conjecture quake, 

 No stiff starched stays make meddling fingers ache ; 

 No damsel faints when rather closely pressed, 

 But more caressing seems when most caressed." 



BYRON. 



A S we entered the garden or compound round the 

 ** bungalow we found great preparations had been 

 made for the nautch. The verandah was inclosed all 

 round with fine mat tatties or screens, behind which 

 the 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 at- 



