ASIATIC DANCERS. 
273 
waist by a belt of crimson cloth or velvet, set with studs, and 
odd conceits in silver patterns. Quantities of coins, of different 
sizes and sorts, were suspended from their necks and breasts, 
while numerous strings of the same traversed their bodies, so low 
as to shake loose upon their thighs. Their arms were covered to 
the wrists with very wide linen sleeves, fringed with bunches of 
small bells, like those formerly the ornament of falcons. Besides 
these jingling appendages, their thumbs and fore-fingers were 
furnished with a pair of large metal castanets. Thus accoutred 
at all points for clatter and motion, some guess may be formed 
of the abominable congregation of noises that broke forth the 
moment a groupe of these gentry began their evolutions, which 
they performed, not only in every limb, but in every finger and 
toe and muscle of their bodies. But to finish the rest of their 
dress. A sort of petticoat, or rather petticoats, (for this part of 
their apparel consists of three divisions, one over the other, in 
blue, red, and any third gay colour,) depend from the bottom of 
the tight vest, and have, by way of a finish to each, a long fringe 
at the hems hanging half-way down a pair of dirty naked legs, 
terminated by feet in the same sorry condition. Their copper- 
coloured and sallow complexions, dark, hollow, and piercing 
eyes, lank cheeks, and ring-bored noses, accompanied by an im¬ 
pudent, emaciated expression of countenance, derived from the 
fevered exhaustion of unremitted midnight revels, merriment 
without joy, and fatigue without the balm of rest, gave them, 
when in the most violent exertions of their performance, an air 
of savage madness, almost amounting to demoniac possession^ 
Not the phrenzied dance of the Theban Bacchse; for in Greece, 
with even their greatest extravagancies, we associate the ideas of 
grace; but of a taste as barbarian as the spirit which led them, 
VOL. II. 
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