What Indonesia - Bali is all about ?

As the occasion was a grand one, the tjokordas of various villages were present on a mat-covered platform half-way down the dance-ground, surrounded by their guests, and the performance was often held up by offerings; first a small procession offering betel to the tjokordas, then a procession of wives bringing food to the guests, then sixteen men in procession bringing betel and coconuts to the Saindan. During the performance also the Rangda rn~sk; were carried up to the bamboo house, followed by a man with a tray containing holy water and the large glass jar in which floated rose petals for sprinkling the ngoerek (mediums), who would probably become possessed during the performance.

The Barong's dance was an unusually long one, but also very varied, as he danced his homage to the Barong Landoeng with the legs of many excellent dancers. One remembers him specially as a great black cloud shutting out the moon, a cloud from which fell tinkling bell-drops; or, again, lying on the ground, his small red mask among all its wealth of crowns and glittering pinnacles reminding one of some fantastic ikon.

One remembers him too when the moon was high doing a marvellous shadow dance while he stalked the prancing Rangda, crouching low and stealing about, his bells tinkling, his gold trappings and-gleaming mirrors being the only indications of his presence. Another memorable moment was. the apparition of Indra as a Djaoek between the curtains of the little house, his glittering white mask peering through the flagstaffs, his long nails trembling. He sat a long time between widely parted knees, dancing with head and trunk and arms, before he resolved to descend the slope, clutching the flags on either side with extravagant and feverish gestures, darting his white looks everywhere. It was an exciting moment too when a shrill yodelling voice, like bubbling water, issued from the curtains and the final great white Rangda appeared, apostrophized the flags in a snoring voice, and at List staggered down the incline.

just as the Barong and Rangda met, the qokordas left in a body, and one was wondering if a rather tedious show was going! to end without the giant hosts putting in an appearance, when an old man began to dance slowly with his kris up the ground towards Rangda. Immediately there was a wild unpremeditated rush from every part of the audience. Rangda was hustled up the incline, and a bar put across to prevent any one attacking her. One man fell into the audience, another into the gamelan; the ground was soon a seething mass of men, wildly dancing and press' their krisses against their breasts. The Barong's front-legs dancer, already in trance few across the ground and entered the Barong Bangkal, whose long black body now advanced at a trot, clacking his magnificent black bristling tusked mask. And now at last the huge black mask and white protruding teeth of Djero Gede towered above the crowd, and at the top of the incline, just outside Rangda's curtain, appeared the pale mask of Djero Loch, his wife, immense and white as the moon, the curved black lines on her checks giving her a very Chinese air.

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