THE NATIVES AT HOME. 28S 



of revolving course round their partners, like satellites 

 encircling their separate suns. Present!} the satellites 

 assumed some of the characteristics of the comet. They 

 rushed about the circle in wild erratic courses ; they 

 leaped into the air, and, while in that position, slapped 

 the soles of their feet with both hands. Should any one 

 deem this an easy feat, let him try it. 



Then they became a little more sane, and a waltz, or 

 something like it, was got up. It was really pretty, and 

 some of the movements were graceful ; but the wild 

 spirit of the glens re-entered the men rather suddenly. 

 The females were expelled from the ring altogether, and 

 the youths braced themselves for a little really heavy 

 work ; they flung and hurled themselves about like 

 maniacs, stood on their heads and walked on their hands 

 in short, became a company of acrobats, yet always 

 kept up a sympathetic feeling for time with the music. 

 But not a man, woman, or child there gave vent to his 

 or her feelings in laughter ! 



They smiled ; they commented in a soft tone ; they 

 looked happy nay, I ana convinced they were happy 

 but they did not laugh. Once only did they give vent 

 to noisy mirth, and that was when an aspiring youth 

 (after having made the nearest possible approach to 

 suicide) walked round the circle on his h^nds and shook 

 his feet in the air. We left them, after a time, in the 

 full swing of a prosperous manufacture of enjoyment, 

 and walked home, about two o'clock in the morning, by 

 brilliant daylight. 



u 



