294 



A VOYAGE TO 



1777' of an hour ; when the rear rank dividing, fliiftcd themfelves 



June. 



very flowly round each end, and, meeting m the front, 

 formed the firft rank| the whole number continuing to re- 

 cite the fentences as before. The other ranks did the fame 

 fucceffively, 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 finifhed the dance ; 

 the drums being removed, and the chorus going off the 

 field at the fame time. 



The fecond dance had only two drums, with forty men 

 for a chorus ; and the dancers, or rather acftors, confifted of 

 two ranks, the foremoft having feventeen, and the other fif- 

 teen perfons. Feenou was at tb.eir head, or in the middle 

 of the front rank, which is the principal place in thefe cafcs. 

 They danced and recited fentences, with fome very fhort in- 

 tervals, for about half an hour, fometimes quickly, fome- 

 times more flowly, but with fuch a degree of exa'sftnefs, as 

 if all the motions were made by one man, which did them 

 great credit. Near the clofe, the back rank divided, came 

 round, and took the place of the front, which again re- 

 fumed its fituation, as in the firft dance ; and when they 

 finifhed, 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 



