BAYADVRES (from the Portuguese bailadeira, that is, dancing-girl) is the name given by Europeans to the dancing-girls and singers in India, who are divided into two great classes, each comprising many subdivisions. The first of these classes, who are called Devadasi—that is, slaves to the gods—are divided into two distinct grades, according to the rank of the families whence they have sprung, the dignity of the idol to which they are devoted, and the authority and riches of the temple to which they belong. Those of the first rank are chosen from the most influential fatuities of the Vaisya caste, to which the rich landed proprietors and merchants belong. Those of the second class are chosen from the chief Sudra families, who correspond to our mechanics. No girls can be admitted among the Devadasis but such as are still in childhood, and free from any bodily defect. The parents of the girl must renounce by a solemn agreement all right to their child, who then receives the necessary instruction. The employment of the Devadasis is to sing the praises of their god at festivals and solemn processions, to cele brate his victories and great deeds, and to dance before him, to weave the wreaths with which the images are adorned, and in general to perform subordinate offices in the tem ple and for the priests. On the other hand, they are excluded from the celebration of such rites and ceremonies as are accounted peculiarly sacred, as, for example, at sacri fices for the dead. suttis, etc. The Devadasis of the first rank live within the inclosure of the temple, which they are not permitted to leave without the special permission of the high priest. They must remain unmarried for life, but arc, notwithstanding, per mitted to choose a lover, either in or out of the temple, provided he belongs to one of the high castes. A connection with a man of low rank would be punished with the utmost severity. If they have children, the girls are brought up to their mother's pro fession, and the boys are educated for musicians. The Devadasis of the second rank differ but little from those of the first, but they have more freedom, as they live without the temple. A certain number of them must attend daily at the temple service, but at public processions they are all obliged to appear. They not only dance and sing before
the images—for which they receive a fixed allowance of rice-money—but when sum moned by the nobles, they perform at marriages, banquets, etc. All the Devadasis reverence, as their special patroness and protectress, the goddess Ram bha, one of the most beautiful dancers in the paradise of Indra. They bring a yearly offering in spring to her and to the god of love. The singing-girls who travel about the country are of an essentially different class from the Devadasis. They perform only at private feasts, entertain strangers in the tschuitris, or public inns, and get different names according to the special arts in which they excel. Sonic of them live independently in bands, con sisting of from to 12 persons. They travel about the Country, and divide their gains with themusictans who accompany them. Others are under the authority of dayas, or old dancing-women, who receive all the money they gain, and give the girls only enough for food and clothing. Some are really the slaves of such old women, who have pro cured them in their infancy either by purchase or by capture, and have instructed them their art. To one of these classes belonged those B. who visited several of tit: European capitals in 1839. The costume of the• B. is not without a certain charm. Their dances do not resemble what we are cccustomed to call dancing, but are rather a species of pantomime, which is explained by the songs recited by the accom panying musicians. The themes of these songs are usually either happy or despairing love, jealousy, etc. Europeans have spoken with much enthusiasm of the charms these pantomimes; but to judge by the performances of the above-mentioned B. during their visit to Europe, these descriptions must be looked upon as very much exaggerated; for although these d agility, ancers possessed great physical aoility their movements were want ing in dignity and grace.
0, or SAN SALVADOR, a t. in the eastern part of the island of Cuba, GO m. n.w. from Santiago. It is situated in an unhealthy plain, near the left bank of the Canto, a small river which falls into an arm of the sea called the canal of Bayamo. The town carries on a considerable trade. Pop. about 7500.