266 THE BACES. 



maddened by it ; and ^vllite people liave told nie tliat its very 

 monotony, if listened to long, is strangely exciting, like the 

 monotony of a bagpipe drone, or of a drum. What more 

 Avent on at the dance we could not see ; and if we had tried, 

 we shoidd probably not have been allowed to see. ' The Negro 

 is chary of admitting white men to his amusements ; and no 

 wonder. If a London ball-room were suddenly invaded by 

 Pho^'bus, Ares, and Hermes, such as Homer drew them, they 

 would probably be unwelcome guests ; at least in the eyes of 

 the gentlemen. The latter would, I suspect, thoroughly 

 sympathise with the ISTegro in the old story, intelligible 

 enough to those who know what is the favourite food of a 

 West Indian chicken. 



'' Well, John, so they gave a dignity ball on the estate 

 last night?" 



" Yes, massa, very nice ball. Plenty of pretty ladies, 

 massa." 



" Why did you not ask me, John ? I like to look at pretty 

 ladies as well as you." 



" Ah, massa : when cockroach give a ball, him no ask 

 da fowls." 



Great and worthy exertions are made, every London Season, 

 for the conversion of the Xegro and the Heathen, and the 

 abolition of their barbarous customs and dances. It is to be 

 hoped that the Negro and the Heathen will some day show 



