A MALAY NAtTTCH. 167 



ments of the dancers more free and even abandoned. For 

 the latter half of the dance they each had a wand, to repre- 

 sent a sword, bound with three rings of burnished gold 

 which giltered in the light like precious stones. 



This nautch, which began soberly, like the others, grew to 

 a Bacchante revel until the dancers were, or pretended to 

 be, possessed by the Spirit of Dancing "hantu menari" 

 as they called it. and leaving the Hall for a moment to 

 smear their lingers and faces with a fragrant oil, they re- 

 turned, and the tAvo eldest, striking at each other with their 

 wands seemed inclined to turn the symbolical into a real 

 battle. They were however, after some trouble, caught by 

 four or rive women, who felt what the limbic wands could be 

 made to do, and carried forcibly out of the Hall. The two 

 younger girls, who looked as if they too would like to be 

 possessed but did not know how to do it, were easily caught 

 and removed. 



The Band, whose strains had been increasing in wilduess 

 and in time, ceased playing on the removal of the dancers, 

 and the nautch was over. This was after 5 a. m. 



The Bandahara who had appeared about 4 a, m. told me 

 that one of the girls, when she became "properly" possessed, 

 ate nothing for months but flowers, a pretty and poetic 

 conceit. 



In saying good bye Ave asked if Ave might., as I understood 

 was customary, leave a present for the performers, avIio I 

 should lmve mentioned Avere part of the Bandahara's own 

 household. 



He consented seemingly with pleasure, and Ave left him 

 for our boat just as the day Avas beginning to break. 



By the time Ave had got our traps together the sun had 

 risen and Avas driving the night fog from the numbers 

 of lovely islands which stud the river near the town. 



We got into our boat, shoved off, and thoroughly tired lay 

 down on the thwarts and in 10 minutes Were fast asleep ; 

 only waking when we reached the "Pluto" at 7.15 a. m. 



