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ETIQUETTE A host must act as servant to his guests, himself attending to their comfort and not partaking of the refreshments. Meals are also served by the host, even if he has servants and assistants, and he can eat only after the guests have finished. If the visitors come from another village, they are expected to stay for the night and In for days at a time. The place of honour in the house is then assigned to them. After a reasonable period of time the visit is and the presents reciprocated become figuratively invisible. Great courtesy is shown even among people who are intimate and it is extremely unusual for a man to " get fresh " with a girl in public; should it happen, the man would be severely punished. Thus a woman can confidently remain in her house while her male relatives are away at work, and a girl can go anywhere without fear of being approached by a stranger. Girls of high caste usually go chaperoned. Lovers are particularly careful not to show their emotions in public. To neglect releasing a loud belch after a meal would be taken by the host as a sign that the food was not satisfactory. In general the Balinese are very frank in actions that would be out of the question among us, such as clearing the throat, spitting, and so forth. These are pekfectly normal actions no one needs to conceal.
But the key to Balinese etiquette among the castes consists in the language
spoken and in keeping at the proper level. Under no circumstance should
a common man stand higher than an aristocrat. If a lowly person has
to pass a nobleman who is sitting, he stoops in front of him until he
is reasonably far away, and to address his superior he must squat or
sit on the ground clasping his hands together in front of his chest
or over his left shoulder. To retire, after begging leave, he walks
backwards, stooping and holding his hands clasped.
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