NOVEL PROCESSION. 239 



maids. They were dressed in a piece of white 

 cotton fastened below the breasts, with holes cut 

 in different parts of a diamond form, and re- 

 sembling paper cut for a fire-grate : they were 

 still singing their country songs. Those of seven 

 and eight years were quite naked, and only about 

 twenty of the king's daughters wore cloths : it 

 is customary for them to go in a state of nudity 

 until they arrive at a marriageable age, which is 

 about ten years and a half. The eldest ap- 

 peared to be about nine or ten years of age. 

 They carried two wooden figures of a male and 

 female, one black and the other white ; the white 

 image being intended to represent the dobo or 

 devil, and dressed in a most grotesque manner. 

 They were singing a country song, and walked in 

 lines of four or five abreast. 



A little further on, beneath large tamarind 

 and cotton trees, were the king's musicians. As 

 I approached, they made way for my horse. I 

 was highly delighted with the antics and per- 

 formances of the king's fool. The band consisted 

 of eight drummers, with drums made of tanned 

 goat-skin, and four fifes formed of cane with a 

 few holes bored in it. They played very wild, 

 but by no means unpleasing airs, while the 



