1878.] 
F. S. Grovvse —Mathura Notes. 
121 
the men from the neighbouring village of Nand-ganw and the Barsana 
ladies, the wives of the Gfosains of the temple of Larli Ji, which stands 
high on the crest of the rock that overlooks the arena. The women have 
their mantles drawn down over their faces and are armed with long heavy 
bambus, with which they deal their opponents many shrewd blows on the 
head and shoulders. The latter defend themselves as best they can with 
round leather shields and stags’ horns. As they dodge in and out amongst 
the crowd and now and again have their flight cut off and are driven back 
upon the band of excited viragoes, many laughable incidents occur. Not 
unfrequently blood is drawn, but an accident of the kind is regarded rather 
as an omen of good fortune, and has never been known to give rise to any 
ill-feeling. Whenever the fury of their female assailants appears to be 
subsiding, it is again excited by the men shouting at them snatches of the 
following ribald rhymes. They are not worth translation, since they con¬ 
sist of nothing but the repetition of the abusive word said, applied to every 
person and thing in Barsana. That town being the reputed home of 
Kadha, the bride, its people are styled her brothers ; while the Nand-ganw 
men account themselves the brothers of Krishna the bridegroom. 
«1TT | 
nrat n 
^TfspEjf STT; % i 
qTFT^TT " 
qUI qqfqT 93# «TT J?TT qfqqqTT I 
^UIT^ II 
qmsft sitr^f sfa i 
fqaRTT ^ ATT II 
Feb. 28 rd, Nand-ganw. —Another sham fight as on the preceding day, 
only with the characters reversed ; the women on this occasion being the 
Q 
