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entertain their friends at their garden houses: but in these mixed 
companies no women are present, except the dancing-girls, or 
tolerated courtezans, who are accompanied by musicians, playing 
on instruments resembling the guittar and violin. These singing- 
men and singing-women, are hired at festivals and grand solemni- 
ties, among all sects and professions in India. Many of the 
dancing-girls are extremely delicate in their persons, soft and 
regular in their features, with a form of perfect symmetry ; and, 
although dedicated from infancy to this profession, they in general 
preserve a decency and modesty in their demeanor, which is more 
likely to allure, than the shameless effrontery of similar characters 
in other countries. Their dances require great attention, from the 
dancers feet being hung with small bells, which act in concert 
with the music. Two girls usually perform at the same time; 
their steps are not so mazy or active as ours, but much more inte- 
resting; as the song, the music, and the motions of the dance, 
combine to express love, hope, jealousy, despair, and the passions 
so well known to lovers, and very easily to be understood by those 
who are ignorant of other languages. The Indians are extremely 
fond of this entertainment, and lavish large sums on their fa- 
vourites. 
Another kind of dancing-girls are dedicated to the principal 
Hindoo temples; these are supplied by their parents, who are 
taught, that the presentation of a beautiful daughter to the deity 
is highly acceptable: they dance and sing at the festivals, but are 
not considered in the character of the vestal virgins in ancient 
Rome, or of those we read of among the Peruvians; for if we 
investigate the brahminical mysteries, we shall find that these 
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