“ Here I am, well mounted, on a horse whose ears are like pens, who runs like an antelope, and knows none but his master. My new red cap becomes me w e ll; my sword is sharp, my pistols well cleaned, and my belt shines in the sun. As the heart of a pigeon beats when she finds she is robbed of her young, so will my love’s heart beat when she sees me. She will not allow the dog to barb and she will leave the tent as if in search of wood. Should her kinsmen see her with me, she shall not fall under their displeasure. I will lift her on my horse, and fly with her; for my steed has ears like pens, he runs like an antelope, and knows none but his master. My new tagaia becomes me well; my sword is sharp, my pistols clean, and my belt shines in the sun.” The natives have a variety of dances, of which two or three are peculiar to the country. The parties assemble on the sands, in the dusk of the evening, when a number of young men and women range themselves side by side, and dance to the sound of drums, to which they keep very good time. The men have a rude kind of iron cymbal in each hand, which opens and shuts: this they beat in the manner o f castanets; both sexes singing at the same time in chorus. The movements consist in stepping forward, the whole line at once, at a particular turn o f the tune, as if to catch something with their two hands, which they hold out;, they balance themselves a short time on the advanced foot, and then step back, turning half round, first to one side and then the other. The whole line then moves slowly, in a circle, round the musicians who form the centre, and who all join in the dance. There is nothing improper or immodest in this exhibition ; but on the contrary, from its slowness and the regularity o f its movements, it is extremely pleasing and elegant. Another dance is performed by women only, who form a circle round the drummers, and occasionally sing a lively chorus; one advances, and with her arms extended, foots it to and from the drummers, two or three times, until a change of tune, when she runs quickly backwards, and falls flat down. The women behind are ready to receive her, and by a jerk of their arms, throw her again upright; on which she once more turns round, and resumes her place, leaving the one next in succession to her to go through the same movements, all of which are performed in the most just time ; the whole party occasionally enlivening the music, by their shrill and extraordinary cry of joy. The dancing in the houses is not quite so pleasing as that in public, and as for decency it is quite out of the question; no man or woman standing up, unless to throw themselves into a variety, of indelicate postures. The male slaves have many dances, in which great activity and exertion are requisite. One consists in dancing in a circle, each man, armed with a stick; they all. move, first half and then quite round, striking, as they turn, the sticks of those on each side of them, and then, jumping off the ground as high as they can. Another is performed by boys, and they haye no drum, but keep chorus, by singing in a particular manner, La ilia il ’Alla dJU. “ There is no God but God.” The Sultan had ■frequently, requested Mr. Kitchie to visit his children, and some of liis negresses, when they were indisposed, and he had, in consequence, frequently attended them; but now being himself confined by illness,. I was allowed to prescribe for. them, and had, therefore, frequent opportunities of observing the interior of his family, which would not otherwise have been afforded me. I was much struck with the appearance of his daughters,: one of three, the other of one. year and a half old, who were dressed in the highest, style of barbarian magnificence, and were absolutely laden with gold. From their necks were suspended large ornaments of the manufacture of Tembuctoo, and they had massive gold armlets and anklets of two inches in breadth, and half an inch in
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