18 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
water, and sippings of an agreeably acidulated drink 
something like our ordinary lemonade, the party squat- 
ted themselves upon small Persian carpets, covered 
with the most florid devices, spread upon a fine rush 
mat beautifully white and of the finest texture. 
When the guests were disposed in proper order, a 
musician advanced, made his salaam, and gave us an 
air upon the sarinda ; — a rude kind of violin, which 
he managed with more dexterity than taste. He 
was shortly joined by several other members of his 
profession, and for a good half-hour we were doomed 
to nothing short of a musical purgatory. To my 
especial relief, this luxury of Oriental melody had 
its termination, and several nautch girls were intro- 
duced. The two principal were extremely pretty, 
with figures of the most delicate symmetry. They 
wore silk trousers of a pale scarlet, gathered round the 
ankles, below which a thin gold bangle embraced the 
small delicate leg. From these were suspended minute 
silver bells, that kept a gentle and by no means dis- 
agreeable tinkling, as these Oriental figurantes went 
through the various evolutions of their native dances. 
Upon the upper part of their persons they wore white 
jackets closely fitted to the shape, terminating in a 
short skirt, which descended loosely over the hip, but 
was left open in front, so as to expose the trousers ; 
under this jacket a transparent petticoat hung as far 
as the knee. Over the head and shoulders was thrown 
a veil of beautiful thin gauze, which crossed the bo- 
som, and, when spread open, was made occasionally 
to hide the entire figure of the dancer ; at each corner 
was a rich tassel of gold or silver bullion. This veil 
