—— 
‘juggling in all its branches. 
4804.) 
Jiar ponifhment of having their nofes 
rubbed onthe ground. 
Though profeffing Iilamifm, they em- 
ploy a Brubman, who is an adept in 
altrology, to fix on a name for their 
children, whom they permit to remain 
at the breatt till five or fix years of age. 
Their marriages are deferred to a later 
period of life, in confequence of a daugh- 
ter being confidered-as produftive pro- 
perty to the parents, by ber profeffional - 
abilities. The girls, who are merely 
taught to dance and fing, have no reftric- 
tion on their moral conduét; but the 
chaftity of the tumblers is ftrictly en- 
joined, until their ftations can be fupplied 
by younger ones, trained up in the fame 
line. After the matrimonial ceremony 1s 
over they no longer exhibit as public 
dancers. A total change of condu& is 
expected and generally enfues. 
There are in and near Calcutta, five 
fets of thefe people, and to each is ap- 
pointed a Surdar or manager, one of 
whom is confidered as the chief or Nardar 
Boutah. The people of each fet are 
hired by the Surdar for a certain period, 
after which they are at liberty to join 
any other party. No peafom can eftabliih 
a fet without the fanction of the Nardar 
Boutah, who receives a fourth of the 
profits, befides a tax of two rupees 
which is levied on the girls of each tet, ' 
as often as they may have attragted the 
notice of perfons not of their own eaft. 
When the parties return from their ex. 
curfions, this money is paid to the Nardar 
‘Boutah, who convenes his people, and 
they continue eating and drinking till 
the whole is expended. When any of 
the Surdars are {ufpected of giving in an 
unfair ftatement of their profits, they 
are brought to trial, and fubdjected toa 
fine for liquor, and if it be not imme. 
diately paid, the delinquent is banifhed 
from their fociety; his wife and children 
_even avoid him. 
The Budeea Nuts differ from the Bu. 
weegurs in fome particulars. The men 
are remarkably athletic, and adroit in 
every kind of flight of hand, praGtifing 
As tumb- 
leis, they exhibit not only feats of agi. 
lity, but great inftances of ftrensth. 
They inter their dead, and the only cere- 
mony feems to be, to forget their forrows 
by getting completely drunk immediately 
afterwards. ‘The women are not allowed 
to witnefs their juggling exploits; they 
have a department allotted to themielves, 
which contifls of the praétice of phy fic, 
é&c. they ufually fally out in the mora- 
3 
Proceedings of Learned Societiess 
Oa 
ing .with a quantity of herbs and’ dried 
birds, and bego'ng from door to doory 
offer their fervices generally to the females 
only, in the cure of whofe ailments 
they pretend to Have a peculiar know- 
ledge. Should it fo happen that they’ 
do not return home before the jackals 
cry is heard in the evening, their fidelity 
is falpeéted, and they fubjet themfelves 
to the difpl-afure of their hufvands, and 
are punifhed accordingly. 
_ The marriage ceremonies are traly 
farcical ; but when the bride is delivered 
into the hands of the bridegroom, he is 
expected to behave kindly to her, and 
fhe is reminded ‘of the neceflity of con- 
ducting herfelf as a good and obedient 
wife. The man then makes a mark 
with red powder on her ferehead, faymg, 
“* this is my wedded wife.” She repeats 
the fame ceremony upon her hufbands 
face. The merriment then begins,.and 
eich endeavours to accomplith the fooneft 
the bufinefs of intoxication, except the 
wife, who on that day is expected te re- 
frain. A little after day-light the whole) 
party prepare to fet off for the bride- 
groom’s houfe, and the dowry is deliver~ 
ed. Before the houfe ftands an earthen: 
pot filled with water; and ‘in it is placed 
a fimall frefh branch of a Mangoe tree 5 
an emblem of plenty. The mother 
coms ferth with a fieve, containing rice, 
écc. which fhe waves round each of their 
heads three times, -and touches thei 
forelieads with it. Phe bridegroom then 
leads the bride into the houle’ where fhe 
is received by the mother with many 
welcomes. The men and women again 
affemble,- and in’ the evening {cenes of 
mtoxication fucceed, their greateit enjoy- 
ment confifts in the grofeit indulgence ef 
the fenfual appetites. 
Captain Richardfon, after many other 
particulars, fhews that the jugglers whe 
arrived in Europe about the 14th cen- 
tury, and who intreduced the viel wilt 
three &rings, were of atace very fimilar 
to what the Bazeegurs are at this day, 
in confirmation of which he introduces 
an extract from Deftor Burney’s Hittory 
of )Mufic. © He then draws a- parallet 
between the Giofies of Europe and thefe 
Bazeegurs. ‘They are both a wandering | 
race, and have a laneuage peculiar to 
themielves.. The Gipfits tave their king 
the Nuts their Nardar Boutah: they go 
in companies, and their employments are 
fmilar, They are both confidered as 
thieves ; and to both religion feems of rf 
CONCETIs apie 
yd VARIETIES 
