DRAMATIC PUPPETS. 153 



from thirty to sixty rupees each. They represented 

 men and women, deities and demons, most of them 

 with extraordinary towering head-dresses and flow- 

 ing garments, many with grotesque or hideous 

 features, and all more or less distorted. There 

 were some well known characters in native history, 

 tradition, or romance, with several others of buf- 

 foonery. The whole figure was motionless, except 

 the arms, which were jointed, and capable of being 

 moved by strings pulled by the exhibitor. From 

 the base of each figure proceeded a long thin spike, 

 by which it was stuck into the cabbage-palm till 

 wanted, and by which, when exhibited, it was held, 

 so that the hand of the exhibitor might not be seen. 

 In the centre of the screen, which was raised a foot 

 or two from the ground, was a carved scene, repre- 

 senting two pillars, about three feet apart, with a 

 wall stretching on either hand, and in the opening 

 between these two pillars, which might be taken to 

 represent a large gateway, the figures or puppets 

 were held. The spectator, now being seated on 

 the other side of the screen, saw the shadow of the 

 walls and gateway, and those of the figures, strongly 

 projected on the white calico screen by means of the 

 bright lamp a little behind them. The exhibitor 

 being seated on the ground, so that none of his 

 shadow should be seen, and the gamelang ready, 

 the play commenced at eight o'clock. Striking with 

 a wooden hammer on a board, as a means of regu- 

 lating the tunes, or the time and measure of loudness 



