William Simpson (1823-1899)

Simpson desribed the scene, when he attempted to recreate the dream world of the poem Lall Rookh, in his Autobiography: '... it was determined to have a nautch, and some of the most noted dancing-girls were engaged. To carry out the idea fully the performance was to take place in the Shalimar Gardens, created by the famous Delhi emperor Shah Jehan, and in hte very building described by Moore, where Noor Mahal had sung "and oh! if there be an Elysium on earth It is this, it is this!" ... the nautch girls arrived, each with her baji-wallahs, or musicians, and were ready to begin. The first song was "Taza-be-taza" -- "Now be now" -- While the dnace went on our thoughts only turned to the time of Jehangir and Moor Nahal. The illusion was complete. For the moment we seemed not to belong to the nineteenth century. It may be mentioned that some of the Kashmiris are so fair they have a touch of red in their cheeks. Goolee, the principal performer of the evening. Her name means "rose" or "rosy".' (The Autobiography of William Simpson, R.I., London, 1903, p.155)