attitudes-round av-lamp; which hangs suspended^ : Generally-speaking, both
their action.-.and. theK:;SQ.ng are.a-ude. and awkward,: and on - that account
often disgusting, rfo Europeans, although there .are some among them whose
perform ance-jdoeg not deserved;©; be so consideredt. Their «action is usually
distorted» (their -gf&ateste^ellenee seeming to .consist in- bending the arms
and: hands;-back niu an : unnatural manner,' and giving.\one »or two of the
fingers a trprnnloiK motion,. The yoico, thpugb sometimes: harmonious, is
cffton leiud* diasonant,, and'sharsh.to...£,European ear.. They-generally have
a handkerchiefi thr®wnio®er‘the. shouldery and usually-a«fan in their hand,
l i d # occasionally »series to conceal one half of: the- fac# notuso much out
of any-affaetationbf bashfulness, as*: in the manner of adiuntsman, to assist
the louder- .t.mfis.v.«f: the voice.. At«other.- times -it is employed to strike
against the hack-of ithe.arm-,, so- as,to give.a greater effect to'different parts
of j the action and. music« Generally speaking, -the« rdngfgmgs do not
descend ito the-performance- of. those disgusting and disgraceful postures
and mo,tions, which are„ stated to be frequent on the Continent of India*
but they are not free deem, the -charge- x)f- ■ impropriety—in this-respect.
Their i song* >fbongh little- esteemed: and less understood- by Europeans,
s0.metim.es7 possesses much humour and drollery j. and dn> adapting their
lahgii®ge»r#ey:- frequently excite loud bursts of laughter,
and obtain:gceat applause from the? native audience.. - <
The nobles :oi the highest:rank are accustomed,--'0® .particular occasions
of fcstivily*;to join: in^the dance with a ranglgeng. To danee^gr-acefiilly,
is an accomplishment: expected-in:every Javan of rank ; and in. the western
districts,^particularly,.alltheLchiefsiare, on days, of festivity, accustomed to
join in i fhe-f^^siE®*! one «after. the .other, commencing with the youngest.
On these, occasions, the nobles :.of the. highest - class vie with each other in
gOUtting sthe.,toe. with .-grace*, in i exhibiting- elegance- of movement, in displaying:
adroitness bys. intricate evolutions* or beaut^ iof pergon by an
ingenious management! of -attitude. hSo .devoted are dhey to-this 'exercise,
that although their wives and daughters never dance, the! happiness of a
festive, occasion is considered, incomplete, where - an opportunity is : not
afforded to the chiefs themselves of introducing their favourite amusement.
In:die^d»d«x^9tri©ts-th^eiare: some .individuals distinguished as regular
posture .or dancing-masters.
It is not unusual for-the performances of the rbng’gengs to be-varied by the
action of a fool or* buffoon. Mimicry, isa- favourite amuSetnCnt, and beside
imitating,