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Indonesia - Bali is all about ?
Two
Barong were splendidly outspread on a high bale waiting
to come into action. The umbrelas and spears grow thicker
and thicker and now a huge crowd is sitting on the ground
in front of the table before the large closed shrine
where the Rangda masks are Kept. The open door is covered
by a curtain, drawn aside from time to time as a white-robed
priest passes in and out. Now the masks come out and
are laid on the table, five in all, each under its umbrella.
Three Barongs lie on the ground, prostrate before the
table of masks, heading the huge crowd. A man who is
to wear the Rangda mask sits among them, already dressed
in white trimmed with fur, Rangda's pendulous breasts
attached to his costume, the long-nailed gloves of Rangda
on his hands.
The
Presi danced by four men, had the semblance of a real
encounter. The dancers, the holding large round shields
of stamped and gilded leather, formed a square, whirling
and turning with small quick chassis, touching the ground
with infinite precaution, The movement was throughout
very restless, as they rushed together and rushed apart,
their tiny side trippings, that hardly seemed to brush
the ground, alternating with wide and swaggering steps.
At last they sat in a square, holding out their six-spiked
shields. Again their bunches of bright or dusky stoles
swung to and fro as their feet moved, now quick, now
slow, to low, rapid music. The left hand, held up high,
fluttered perpetually as they faced each other, lifting
one leg high and swaying restlessly from side to side.
A rapid series of steps, and the shields are held up
with a cry, both pairs standing back to back while they
draw their krisses.
The
poenggawa, in an ivory brocaded kain, with a gold-worked
border and pale gold sash wound among the deeper gold,
a long white kanjoet falling in front, sits gravely
watching on a high bale' among his wives. One sees a
few of the decorative old Bali kains, with beautifully
disposed stripes of red, blue, green, yellow, and white.
An old man in golden tissue, priests in short white
sapoets, mingle in the stream of colour ceaselessly
flowing down the steps under the high coral gateway.
Now the first Rangda-bearer is in trance. Among shrieks
and cries, waving krisses and long-nailed fingers, the
Rangda mask is put on. The Ran das are led out shaking.
Men and boys leap with high shrill cries, defying, each
other. fut attacking only themselves.
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