selves through various movements intended to be
graceful, two men carried candles, dodging about to
hold them close to the dancers, that their good looks
might be admired, the candle-bearers themse ves contorting
their faces, and disporting themselves like
clowns. One of their nonsensical feats, when there was
a lull in the dance, was to sit opposite each other an
make grimaces, or move the muscles and skin of the
face like a rabbit. They brought on next a Persian
song and dance with whistles, the batchas snapping
their fingers in time, and then striking together a pair
of wands. ' ,
A s the entertainment proceeded, a large ^ crowd,
attracted by the sound of the music, pressed into the
courtyard and garden, delighted to witness the performance.
Their appreciation o f the batchas was
intense They offered them tea and fruit, and, when
the boys sat, they could hardly have been made more
of had they been the first stars of a London season.
They seated themselves apart from “ the vulgar
crowd,” near to us, whereupon lights were placed
before them, that all might gaze and admire He
thinks himself a happy man to whom a batcfia condescends
to offer a bowl of tea, and receives it wit
expressions of great respect. So again, if a man
offers tea to a batcha, it is counted an honour if it is,
taken and the cup returned, after tasting to the owner,
but a great indignity if the remainder be handed to
another I gave the boys refreshments, and sent
round to the crowd some of our boxes of sugar-candy,
which was readily accepted.
W e were next entertained with some acrobatic
feats the men bending backwards till their heads
touched- the ground, and performing several other
fantastic exercises. After this, a man gave us
a Hindu dance, and preparations were made for
some rude comic acting, in which were represented
various scenes from native life— first a quarrel
and law-suit about a scarf. Presently a high priest,
or some dignitary amply covered with cotton wool
to represent white hair and beard, was carried in
on a sort of sedan chair. Whether he was intended
to represent the Emir or the Grand Lama I am uncertain,
but he was waited upon with great obsequiousness,
whilst the musicians kept up vociferous
singing and loud beating of tambourines. Presently
à supposed dead man was brought in, upon whom the
mullah ^sprinkled water in such abundance as to make
the corpse wince, and he then proceeded to count the
dead man’ s debts, supplying himself with a substitute
for ink with a nastiness that will not allow of description.
A t length, by accident Or by design, one of
the candles set fire to the cotton wool of the ju d g e s
hair, and he was about to be enveloped in flames, but
which fortunately they were able to put out, and this
touch of reality brought the proceedings to an unceremonious
close.
I I am not aware that the Central Asiatics dance at
all as a social amusement, but only as a spectacle,
^■he boys are early trained to it, and continue their
profession until the beard grows. T he Emir has a
t a f f of them, who, when he stays in Kitab, dance
every night from 7 to 10 in some public place. Rich
men also keep them for their enjoyment, and even
]boor families club together to maintain a corps for
their joint amusement.*
■ * These batchas are also used, though not in all cases, for immora
purposes. Vambery alludes to this at the time of his visit to Bokhara.
One hears and reads of the Emir having formerly had a male and
■VOL. II. 2