These
are considered as holy. If they consist of rice and fruit, they are
immediately eaten; if of flowers, the men put them in their turbans, and
the girls entwine them in their hair.
Next to the priests, the most important persons about the temples are
the dancing girls. These are persons of the vilest character. They
perform their religious duties in the temple twice a day. They also
assist at the public ceremonies, and dance. At the same time they sing
the most abominable and filthy songs. Of these wicked creatures,
however, I must not tell you any thing further.
The next order of persons employed in the temples, are players on
musical instruments. Every temple of note has a band of these musicians
who, as well as the dancers, are obliged to attend the temple twice a
day. They are also obliged to assist at all the public festivals. Their
band generally consists of wind, instruments, resembling clarionets and
hautboys, to which they add cymbals and drums. They have a bass,
produced by blowing into a kind of tube, widened below, and which gives
an uninterrupted sound. Part of the musicians sing hymns in honor of
their gods.
The expenses of the temples are borne by the voluntary offerings of the
people, consisting of money, jewels, cattle, provisions, and other
articles.
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