Punch: Punch (76.1879)

May 3, 1879.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

203

INJYABLE INJIA;

ok, notes and sketches of a specially-commissioned artist.

By FUZZELT PRINCEPS.

Chapter VI.

Indore—Games—Dodges— Chess— Mate—Sans-bans - maree—Sittings—Nautch

— Chance—Accepted—Beautiful—Description — Poetic — Charming—Jolly
—Rummy—Jam Sukee—Archbishop — Canterbury — Apparitor — Nash—
Jolly — Joke— Rhyme—Awfully-Awful — Cocoa-Nuts —• Cherub—Rome—
Khan-Khan—Descent—Disguise — Khik- Uphi— Drums— Trumpets— Bis

— Millah—Rummi— Pootih Sing—Jealousy— Whiskers— False—Sneekhar
■—Fakawazahs—Danger—Intense—Rapid—Action—Done—Private— Off—
Next Day—Breakfast—Day After—Zenana—Dhoodheen Shah—3Iodels—
Chancellors — Notes — Eminent Models — House Surrounded — Peelahs —
Treachery—Danger—How to Escape—Peril—Away.

NbORB. — Charming place, when ii
rains. Was here before, when
H.R.H. visited Injia. No change
—as i say to anyone who asks me for the loan of half-a-crown. Here I stop all
day, playing at bansmaree with the Rajah's daughters, who are the joiliest girls
out. Bansmaree " is a dangerous game to play unless you know your society

■Kough Sketch, made on the Spot, oe our Three Selves seeing the
Dance oe a Thousand Nautch-Girls by Torchlight.

remarkably well, as an inexperienced hand might find himself landed in as tight
a fix as if he had been'united to a blushing beauty by special licence at St. Bride's.

It is difficult to describe all the dodges in the game. It is not unlike chess
as far as the object goes, which is to mate in as few moves as possible.

If notice is given three times beforehand of your fair
adversary's intention, then you either refuse to play, on
the spot, or, if she wins, it is a genuine case of Bans-
maree. If notice is not given, then your adversary may
aim at Sans-bans-maree, and this requires some dex-
terity. No one, who has never seen it played by adepts,
can form any idea of the skill required on both sides.

teh. — Took the opportunity, and called on Azure
Hieza, and asked him to sit. He asked me to sit. I
sat. While we were chatting, old Mustafun Summow
came in with Hirza Larkhzir.

They invited us to a nautch, which was to take place
the same evening in Mustafun's apple-grounds. A
'''' nautch " in a nautchard (that is, apple-garden).

I accepted at once. Here is a chance !

Same Evening.—Went with Azure Hirza to Musta-
fun Summow's. Both of these the rummiest old cusses
I've met for some considerable time.

A lovely scene ! Imagine a Nautchard, bright green
with fall-blown red roses, and ruddy golden pippins
such as the Dragon might have eaten in the garden
when the Hesperides were not looking, while, in the blue
distance, pale lemon-coloured bulls disported themselves,
friskily, over the saffron-clad meadow, and crimson
Hedge-Hogs (the half-sacred pigs of the country) were
feeding on luscious, sunset-tinted, full-ripe porky-pines
(a diet that gives the bacon here such a magnificent
flavour), and revelling among the variegated colours of
the peacocks' outspread fantails, as they strutted about
the auburn gravel-path, or perched on the red sandstone
walls. The gorgeousness of the scene was mellowed by
the deep-toned bay of the mulliga-tawny watch-dog, as
it announced the arrival of strangers. Never before,
never since, have I beheld so fair, so strange, so en-
chanting a scene! It was like a magnificent spectacle
it the Victoria Theayter on Boxing-Night!

" Brayvo ! Brayvissimo ! " I cried, enthusiastically,
as, forgetful of time and place, the tears rose to my eyes,
and I clapped my hands aloud with joy. In rushed a
thousand nautch-girls!

Mustafun smiled ; for, by clapping my hands, I had
given the signal before the appointed time.

It was a marvellous effect of light and shade; and
the foregoing sketch conveys a very correct idea of the
entertainment.

Oh, that Nautch-girl, Ral Jam Sukee ! My! didn't
she dance ! What eyes ! What feet! What a stunner
altogether! And one of the j oiliest girls I ever met any-
where ! No blooming affectation !

There's nothing improper in a Nautch dance—nothing.
I wouldn't mind dancing it, myself, before the Archbishop
of Canterbury and with his Apparitor in the Jerusalem
Chamber private seance. By the way, until I knew him
personally, I had always thought there was something
ghostly about the Apparitor. I think I considered him
is a male bogey, the female bogey being termed an Ap-
parition. However, this has naught to do with the
Xautch. So on we go again, jolly as ever!—or as jolly
as The Jolly Nash.

A propos of Jolly Nash, I've seen a dark-skinned
beauty in a rage show her white gleaming teeth, and
give such a " jolly gnash " with them ! My ! Forwards!

Being called on for a song, I gave them—

Go away, Nautchy gal! Go ever so far !
You are so awfully awful, you are !

in my raciest style. They enjoyed it immensely. Which
was the prettier of the two, I don't know—Ral Jam
Sukee, or Pootih Sing.

Dhoonder Ed Rajah is uncommon cocoa-nuts on the
latter, and thinks of making this captivating little gipsy
his Sultana—

A Gitana
His Sultana.

But- Well, at present I think there's a sweet little

cherub of the true British breed who smiles up aloft, and
who keeps his eye on Pootih Sing, who, in turn, if I
mistake not, is rather spoons on the Bold British Artist.
When I say, as above, "little cherub," let my readers
think how they are deceived by the appearance of the
Little Cherubs in St. Peter's at Rome, and then they will
have some idea of my meaning. Aha!

The Nautch was only the first step (so to speak)
towards the great religious fete of the Fakawazahs,
called the Bo I Mosque. Everyone goes in disguise. The
great dance of the evening derives its name from the