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They rode through the town on elephants, saw the Nizam's palace, which was "a mile long and covered with delicate tracery," an ostrich race, an assault-at-arms, and fights between cocks and other creatures. At "Hyderabad," says Mrs. Burton, "they fight every kind of animal." "A nautch," which Sir Salah gave in their honour, Mrs.
The company breakfasted with excellent appetites after the exercises of the morning; and then Lord Tremlyn conducted them to the large saloon where the Nautch had been given, and they were astonished to find that one end of it was occupied by no less than fourteen men, not one of whom was more than half clothed, though the tom-tom player had on a pair of short trousers.
Thank you, my noble captain! For naturally one tips half the drink over the rail with the ancient prayer: 'May it reach him who needs it, and turns one's back on the pulsing ridges and fluid horizons that are beginning their mid-day mirage-dance. At evening the Desert obtrudes again tricked out as a Nautch girl in veils of purple, saffron, gold-tinsel, and grass-green.
They were to the effect that Perbut Lalleejee would celebrate the marriage of his son that evening, and the favor of the recipient's attendance was requested to a Grand Nautch at nine o'clock. The gentleman who sent out these cards was one of the wealthiest of the Parsee community, with whom the viscount was intimately acquainted, and he strongly recommended the Americans to attend.
He had bestowed a handsome gift upon the Chief, ten gold mohrs; and for Bootea there had been the gift of a ruby, also ten gold mohrs. This munificence, for Hunsa and Sookdee declared it to be a rare extravagance, was not so much as reward for Bootea's nautch as a desire on the part of the astute Prince to prepare for the greater service required.
"Just nothing that a man should bother over that he should ask a woman about." But almost involuntarily he brushed his face across her black hair and said, "Just that, Gulab that it's like burying one's nose in a rose." "The attar, Sahib? I love it because it's gentle." "Ah, that's why you wore the rose that I came by at the nautch?" "Yes, Sahib.
Dancing succeeded, and one or two young women were the performers; like the Hindostanee Nautch, it merely consisted in throwing the body and arms into numerous graceful and rather voluptuous postures; at the same time advancing slowly, with a short steady step, and occasionally changing it for a more lively figure.
There had first been a banquet to the officers and civilians at the neighboring station. When this was over, the ladies began to arrive, and for their amusement there had been a native nautch upon a grand scale, followed by a fine display of fireworks, and then by supper, at which the Rajah had made a speech expressive of his deep admiration and affection for the British.
If he could bring the two of them together; have the Gulab get Barlow sensually interested she might act as a spy, get Barlow to talk. No instrument like a woman for that purpose. Nana Sahib turned back to where the Dewan had been questioning Hunsa. "That description of the Gulab as a nautch girl tickles my fancy, Dewani," he said.
There was a nautch, which I thought very stupid, for the girls did nothing but eat sweetmeats, and occasionally ran forward and twirled round for a moment with a half-bold, semi- conscious look; and only one was barely good-looking. Perhaps that is the nautch to dance before ladies; but in Syria, I remember, they danced much better without being "shocking."
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