j777- of an hour; when the rear rank dividing, ihifted themfelves
c—. i very ilowly round each end, and, meeting in the front,
formed the firft rank; the whole number continuing to recite
the fentences as before. The other ranks did the fame
fuccelfively, till that which, at firft, was the front, became
the rear; and the evolution continued, in the fame manner, till the laft rank regained its firft fituation. They then
began a much quicker dance (though flow at firft), and fung for about ten minutes, when the whole body divided into two parts, retreated a little, and then approached, forming a fort of circular figure, which finiihed the dance ;
the drums being removed, and the chorus field at the fame time. going off the
The fecond dance had only two drums, with forty men
for a chorus ; and the dancers, or rather aftors, confided of
two ranks, the foremoft having feventeen, and the other fifteen
perfons. Feenou was at their head, or in the middle of the front rank, which is the principal place in thefe cafes.
9 They danced and recited fentences, with fome very fhort intervals,
for about half an hour, fometimes quickly, fome-
times more flowly, but with fuch a degree’ of exaitnefs, as if all the motions were made by one man, which did them great credit. Near the clofe, the back rank divided, came
o round, and took the place of the front1, which again refumed
its fituation, as in the firft dance; and when they finiihed, the drums and chorus, as before, went off.
Three drums (which, at leaft, took two, and fometimes three men to carry them) were now.brought in; and fe- venty men fat down as a chorus to the third dance. This confifted of two ranks, of fixteen perfons each* with young Toobou at their head, who was richly ornamented with a
fort
fort of garment covered with red feathers. Thefe danced,
fung, and twirled the pagge, as before; but, in general,
much quicker, and performed fo well, that they had the conftant applaufes of the fpeftators, A motion that met
with particular approbation, was one in which they held
the face afide, as if aihamed, and the pagge before it. The back rank clofed before the front one, and that again refumed
its place, as in the two former dances; but then they
began again, formed a triple rpw, divided, retreated to each end of the area, and left the greateft part of the ground clear. At that inftant, two men entered very haftily, and ex- ercifed the clubs which they ufe' in battle. They did this, by firft twirling them in their hands, and making circular ftrokes
before them with great force and quicknefs ; but fo ikilfully
managed, that, though Handing quite clofe, they never interfered.
They ihifted their clubs from hand to hand, with great dexterity; and, after continuing a little time,
kneeled, and made different motions, tolling the clubs up in the air, which they caught as they fell 5 and then went off as haftily as they entered. Their heads were covered with pieces of white cloth, tied at the crown (almoft like a night-cap) with a wreath of foliage round the forehead; but they had only very fmall pieces of white cloth tied about their waifts; probably, that they might be cool, and free
from every incumbrance or weight. A perfon with a fpear, mdraenffnede rl;i kleo othkei nfgo ramboeru,t tehaegne rclaym, aes iinf, ina nfdea irnc hth oef ffaommee hbaofdtyy
to throw it at. He then ran haftily to one fide of the crowd in
the front, and put himfelf in a threatening attitude, as if he meant toflrike with his" fpear at one of them, bending the knee
a little, and trembling, as it Were with rage. He continued
in this manner only a few feconds, when he moved to the
other
1777.'
June.