treat is
not seldom afforded by the _bara roopees_. _Bara_ means twelve, and
_roop_ is an impersonation, a character. These 'twelve characters'
make up in all sorts of disguises. Their wardrobe is very limited, yet
the number of people they personate, and their genuine acting talent
would astonish you. With a projecting tooth and a few streaks of clay,
they make up a withered, trembling old hag, afflicted with palsy,
rheumatism, and a hacking cough. They make friends with your bearer,
and an old hat and coat transforms them into a planter, a missionary,
or an officer. They whiten their faces, using false hair and
moustache, and while you are chatting with your neighbour, a strange
sahib suddenly and mysteriously seats himself by your side. You stare,
and look at your host, who is generally in the secret, but a stranger,
or new comer, is often completely taken in. It is generally at night
that they go through their personations, and when they have dressed
for their part, they generally choose a moment when your attention is
attracted by a cunning diversion. On looking up you are astounded to
find some utter stranger standing behind your chair, or stalking
solemnly round the room.

They personate a woman, a white lady, a sepoy policeman, almost any
character. Some are especially good at mimicking the Bengalee Baboo,
or the merchant from Cabool or Afghanistan with his fruits and cloths.
A favourite _roop_ with them is to paint one half of the face like a
man. Everything is complete down to moustache, the folds of the
puggree, the _lathee_ or staff, indeed to the slightest detail. You
would fancy you saw a stalwart, strapping Hindoo before you. He turns
round, and lo, a bashful maiden. Her eyes are stained with _henna_
(myrtle juice) or antimony. Her long-hair neatly smoothed down is tied
into a knot at the back, and glistens with the pearl-like ornaments.
The taper arm is loaded with armlets and bracelets. The very toes are
bedecked with rings. The bodice hides the taper waist and budding
bosom, the tiny ear is loaded with jewelled ear-rings, the very nose
is not forgotten, but is ornamented with a golden circle, bearing on
its circumference a pearl of great price. The art, the posturing, the
mimicry, is really admirable. A good _bara roopee_ is well worth
seeing, and amply earns the two or three rupees he gets as his reward.

The Pooneah seldom lasts more than the two days, but it is quite
unique in its feudal character