‘The dancing-women are of different kinds. The most respectable are the meeraseen, sometimes called doominca; though the real doominca exhibit in public before men, which the meeraseen never do. The word meeras means an inheritance, and meeraseen an inheritress, from the custom that has obtained in families of never changing the set. Indeed, custom has so far established it as a right, that any deviation would be considered an injustice punishable by law. Many of the different trades claim similar privileges, and a barber prepucian,[[21]] if I may use the expression, for instance wishing to retire from business, would dispose of his custom to any individual, in the same manner as he would any part of his private property. As the meeraseem are never accompanied by male minstrels, they seldom play on other instruments than drums of different kinds, such as the tubla,[[22]] dholuk,[[23]] and munjeera;[[24]] though the meeraseens never perform before assemblies of men, yet the husband and his sons may be present. They are modest and chaste in their manners, and dress; but, notwithstanding this, it sometimes happens, that a fair meeraseen attracts the attention of the male part of the family; in such cases, any intercourse they may have is conducted with secresy.
[21]. The barbers in India have the sole privilege of performing the operation of circumcising.
[22]. The tubla are small drums usually fastened in pairs round the waist, and much resemble kettle drums.
[23]. The dhol, or dholuk, is a large sort, carried horizontally, and seems to be the original of our Turkish drum.
[24]. The munjeera is sometimes beat with a stick.
‘The kunchenee are of an opposite stamp; they dance and sing for the amusement of the male sex, and in every respect are at their command. They are attended by male minstrels, to whom they are often married. It is said these women always consider their first lover as their real husband, during the rest of their lives; and, on his death, though they should be married to another, they leave off their pursuits for a prescribed period, and mourn agreeably to the custom of widows. They do not consider any part of their profession as either disgraceful or criminal; and are not therefore liable to those pangs of conscience which, at some period or other, are supposed to oppress females of this description in other countries. Their profession is emphatically termed the trade, and the female a trader; and I must do them the justice to say, that many a fair trader is to be found among them. There are many other kinds of dancing women, such as hoorkenees, bazeegarnees, dharee, &c. &c.
‘Women do not attend public worship, though particularly commanded thereto in a verse of the Koran. It is not, however, uncommon for ladies of quality to have their own muzjeed, or mosque[[25]], within the haram, as is the case with the Begums of Fyzabad. At Mecca there seems to be no distinction kept up; both sexes there offering up their adoration at the same time and place.