WATCHING THE NAUTCH DANCERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1921, Page 4

WATCHING THE NAUTCH DANCERS.

INDIA. A ihinc v hv ttitlivi' clunciti" oiils! Ah, this uouhl surolv ho "(Tut Chit Ci'o'." in its into Ktisiorn sottino-! ttc ]>c*ih;i]is it event!'! to.cd! tnointirit',. c l l I’llssinn ihilioot'.s in Piotvilocl l.omlot t 11 os! N:cluf;ill\ U" junipocl at t!a> o|)|>of t..»t jtv ol ho in.'.'. | uvsoii I :tt this nttnuti ! tcioti of thi' liitllnht.i ot the' rootto.’lll. .Vs in' a)i|u ,);;:Tc',l e’e c |u'tt nil- ntoiui a lull moon shod a lipht r.s putt' tv silvi'f. hilt t!:o oooliup hf.'iyc- ,c played upon Its i.:is tvoiootoo n'liol alc Of tin- lien t ill tho ihty. . O , .'to eon . sous i I the • lnr,;z it mi .u " .1 iii .l oy t iui .s, utld hohi'iil : Itipucl. tl.fee-deep s.p.nt, ot •• htsi'lv I . eked humanity seated . n ;'e ujonud Thou.eh do ply si if,i*i| at the thou;*;hl .a the eoininp: tanutshii i peflerittum ..0 t :.et >■ tiled with It Me I'.aslefii cotn- ; . : e t’oi us heeiiinin ;. A:i.T shalciny. hands \ii t !i Hie Indian o;!ie, rs, v. e tin.is ntir -ea .s niul. f a a. I t cleeked l annpy. The perliit tintnei* heyan wo' i '.t tX'stlilte unite!,. The tttii hi'utvn hollies, naked execpl I.it- a sinali lniti-el.it h, pfippod a" to oke apart, then eanio loeeihei atoiin, shipping their thittifs as il in deli:.mi 1 il eaell other. A rapid movement broneL! l.utli men to the protiml. ami then the liual uork uf suhduine •‘lie Ihat ttas mid; meath’ he;;tilt. Ta resllers nott looked Voi ail the uni Id like two l ines nil the prouml, until a smith it l.vist ttoke them intu aelion apain and als, turned the vanquished man over on his hack. The ertnvil's simple plaudits sounded eut-imislv rest rttineil to Western eat s, atetlstiimed to ehippine and oheers. A suell of weird iiiusie herahletl the entty of Ihe riamers. Alas! for dreams of "( lot Chin Chntt" am! Itussiao ballets! The |>erl'(ii inaiu e t onsisted oi ehnntine soilps in a reeiuitahlv nasal way, and of post itrinp; wit'i H’r hi. I Hands and feat v,ere eovered in haiteles wliieh weie flashed rhythltiiea 1 • ly loeetltcr, while Ihe hands made various snake-like pest ares. The pirls were entered i t run head to loot in elothinp ot l'i h (o.ours, paid and silver Iwinp worn in profusion. But their heavy parments must have been most uncomfortably hot to dance in ! Meanwhile at intervals the Indian niliceis came to ntir proup with oiler-1 inps of little plates of swccliiicats ami ■ many Indian spices. Others udlowe : with howls of perlTinios'. i first we were pettily deprived n j our liandlierchicls. There .er di]i|,. !| plentifully, and repeated va' llili/s j. since have failetl In n'tiinve the pun- : pi'ttt odours. Then, as is the cltstiHu, mir left wrists were anniutetl, and this iiittl proved even more folia.-ions. So much so that I'iir days afterwards it was the joy and tlcision ul wiu-M ' wits, who sniffed audibly at onr proach. Two hours later, as we went home with sleep heavy upon us, the tfttit••• i was still in full swinp with liilfo tat'ntiott or ahttUMiteuf. For our part, wo had yu'* ah", rt 1 ■ ■ oil all v idea that, a moil eh , “a must diaholieal sort of ' l " l ‘itU' 11 hut the crowd was still deeply tutcu' ami Silt as if looted lo the (-round.

Amt ns iff went lo Led it nets il i ( ft - tilt to forget the uiicnnny effect oi hut crowded square of attentive hnnniiity, anil of the S 1 1! l iT;; tty u"T railing of the tin tie music.