1865.] Description of a Mystic Play. 77 



Translation of a MS. obtained in LadaJc regarding the Dancing on 

 the 10th day of the 5th month, a great holiday. — By the Rev. 

 H. A. Jaeschke, of the Moravian Mission, Kyelang, Lahoul. 



11 Dance Book oe the 10th." 



(After some preambulatry lines which I do not thoroughly understand, 

 it continues as follows) : — 



The time for the first meeting on the 10th having arrived, the 

 performers put on their attire and a nether garment* folded in many 

 "beautiful plaits. The leader in front, they enter running quicker and 

 quicker, according to the measure, and form a circle for the dancing 



called f Mustard seed is distributed among the dancers* Then 



making the sign of the TridentJ the following steps are gone through 



at the words § the right hand, and at the words ... the 



left is stretched out. (This motion I cannot clearly understand.) 



Then the leaders turning to the right, and the last in the line to 

 the left, both advancing towards each other, the circle is again closed 

 or formed. (Steps and dancing). Again making the sign of the 

 Trident they retire. 



Now enter the Libators of Chang. || With bells and fans in their 



hands, and slowly advancing form a circle (dancing ) at the words 



they take the offering of Libation to all the beings of the six 



classes^ in the whole world. Each one* prays for whatever wish he 

 desires to be fulfilled. Now, after a signal from the cymbals, the large 

 trumpets, (about 8 or 9 feet long), thin trumpets, globe trumpets, 

 kettle-drums, pipes, &c, and the whistling with the mouth (that 

 extremely shrill kind, which is produced by putting two fingers in the 



* Part of the clerical dress, very like a petticoat. 



f Here occurs a considerable number of names of different motions, paces, 

 and gestures, often repeated in this little paper, which cannot be translated 

 nor can I properly describe them, as I am not acquainted with the terms used 

 in dancing in the English language. 



J Viz., with the hands. 



§ These refer to the words of the song which accompanies the dance. 



II This word seems to comprehend all sorts of fermented liquors ; thus in 

 Lahoul and Kulloo rice-chang is most common; in Ladak barley-chang, a kind of 

 malt liquor without hops ; in Koonawur they make a grape-chang or wine. 



Tf The six classes of beings subject to transmigration are cha deo (gods) ; 

 Chamyin (asura demigods) ; mi (manusha men) : dudro (animals) : yidaga 

 (pecta ) nyal wapa (or daitya the inhabitants of hell). 



* Viz. of the Lhanias present. 



