The World of Courtesans c8.200

c8.200

The artifices that the courtesans used for extorting money from their lovers consisted of the following. As a first step, in order to show the lover how she spent her own money on ornaments, perfumes, articles of food etc., she settled the accounts of dealers in her lover's presence. After praising his riches she said that she wanted money to perform religious ceremonies to plant trees or groves, or for building temples and tanks, for organizing garden festivals (*udyanotsava*) and for buying gifts for her friends. She also complained that she was robbed of her ornaments and these had to be replaced and for this purpose money was, of course, required. The other excuses which she put forward to get money from her lover were: the loss of her house and damage to property caused by fire, theft, and her mother's neglect of her needs etc. She further conveyed to the lover through her agents that her friends wanted to get back their ornaments deposited with her. She also managed to get the lover's ornaments deposited with her, saying she needed money for the settlement of debts incurred for his sake. Her quarrel with her mother on that account was yet another excuse for loosening his purse-string.