called a gentleman."

"Why, no; but that is the reason why I am annoyed, because I cannot take
it up."

The party soon arrived at the site of the performance, which was on a
small arena at the foot of a pagoda. The pagoda, which was not large,
was evidently of very ancient date, and the carvings in bas-relief,
which were continued round on its sides, representing processions in
honour of the deity, were of a description much superior to the general
execution of the Hindoos. The summit had bowed to time; perishable art
had yielded to eternal nature--a small tree, of the acacia species, had
usurped its place, and, as it waved its graceful bows to the breeze,
appeared like a youthful queen reigning over and protecting the various
shrubs and plants which luxuriated in the different crevices of the
building. The dance was performed by about fifteen men, who were
perfectly naked, their long hair falling below their waists. They went
through a variety of rapid and strange evolutions, with a remarkable
degree of precision, throwing about their hands and arms, and distorting
their bodies, even to their fingers, in a dexterous and almost terrific
manner. Sometimes they would suddenly form a circle, and, with a
simultaneous jerk of their heads, throw their long hair, so that the
ends would for a moment all meet together in the centre; at other times,
rolling their heads upon their shoulders with such astonishing velocity,
that the eye was dazzled as they flew round and round, their hair
radiating and diverging like the thrumbings of a mop, when trundled by
some strong-limbed housemaid. Their motions were regulated by the
tom-toms, while an old Brahmin, with a ragged white beard, sat perched
over the door of the pagoda, and, with a small piece of bamboo, struck
upon the palm of his left hand, as he presided over the whole ceremony.
After a few minutes of violent exertion, he gave the signal to stop, and
the performers, reeking with perspiration from every pore, bound up
their wet hair over their foreheads, and made room for another set, who
repeated the same evolutions.

"Is this religion?" inquired Seymour of Macallan, with some
astonishment.

"That is a difficult question to answer in a few words. We must hope
that it will be acceptable as such, for its votaries are, at least,
sincere."

"Oh! no one can deny the _warmth_ of their devotion," observed
Courtenay, drily.

The extreme heat and effluvia from the crowds o