1 80 Sport and Life in the Further Himalaya 



piece of leather, the point of which fell far 

 down the back. On .this a large number of 

 "matrix" turquoises were sewn; the perak, as 

 they call it, of a wealthy woman being a mass 

 of blue. Behind the ears big flaps of black 

 furs stood out, giving the wearer a remark- 

 able elephantine appearance. As the dance drew 

 to a close, the audience were staring up into 

 the trees over their heads, where the firelight 

 discovered a large ape, seated among the branches, 

 presently descend for " comic business " among 

 the crowd. 



After this, the stage was held by a scarlet- 

 visaged dwarf, who shot up into a geni and 

 swayed about over our heads. Then a sword- 

 dance, always a popular turn in the East. Round 

 and round the dark-robed figures flitted, swords 

 playing like lightning round their heads, slowly 

 at first, then more wildly, till when the utmost 

 pitch of exertion was reached the assembly broke 

 into frantic shouts of " Barikulla, Barikulla ! " 



A fire -dance came next, in which the artist 

 spun a long pole with a torch at either end 

 round his head more and more rapidly till he 

 was encircled by two bright rings of fire. 



Between the performances the fire was tended 

 by men with wet cloths round their faces, look- 

 ing like demons in the ruddy glow. At each 



