MEXICAN DANCES AND MUSIC GENIN. 659 



"At private affairs the dancers were few in number. They in- 

 creased according to circumstances and numbered thousands on oc- 

 casions of formal fetes. When they were in small numbers they ar- 

 ranged themselves in rows which advanced and moved back with 

 measured steps, or placed themselves opposite each other, joining 

 and mingling. If the dancers were in large numbers, the musicians, 

 seated or standing on small mats, occupied the center of the place 

 where the ball was held, while all around them the dancers moved 

 in concentric circles and eddied about with more or less rapidity ac- 

 cording to whether they were more or less distant from the musicians. 

 The leaders of the ball, two or four in number, were all near the 

 musicians, the other dancers being in a formation like the radii of a 

 circle." (It was probably the style of the master of ceremonies or 

 of the ballet which regulated the step or the measure.) 



" At a signal, the music commenced, and the art consisted in 

 dancing, so as to make the rhythmic movements coincide with the 

 music and the songs which accompanied it." (Knowing that the 

 Mexican instruments produced a rather discordant music, it may 

 be supposed that the songs were for the purpose of giving it some 

 harmony by blending the deep sounds of the drums with the shrill 

 notes of the flutes and pipes.) 



"The movements were carefully indicated and the dancers," says 

 Orozco y Berra, " as though moved by springs, were supposed to 

 raise simultaneously the same hand, the same arm, or move the 

 same foot. Naturally," he adds, " those in the first circle moved 

 relatively slowly, but in proportion as they were distant from the 

 center, the dancers had to cover a greater distance in the same 

 length of time, and consequently the speed kept increasing. At the 

 end of each strophe, they started over again. Then the time 

 changed, constantly increasing the rapidity of movement, in such 

 a manner that at the end the dancers in the last circles acquired a 

 giddy speed. Between the concentric circles the little children fol- 

 lowed the dance, together with buffoons and a kind of clowns, who 

 wore ridiculous disguises, and now and then spoke or sang jokes 

 or clever remarks to amuse the spectators." 



These chorographic spectacles lasted for several hours. The 

 tired dancers were replaced by others and the first withdrew to 

 refresh themselves or take some rest. All came dressed in their 

 most beautiful clothing, and covered with ornaments and jewels, 

 carrying in their hands bouquets of Cowers, branches, or fans made 

 of bright-colored plumes. Others were crowned, with garlands, 

 " and it was a spectacle worthy of admiration," declares Torque- 

 mada. 2 



a Monarquia Indiana, vol. 14, Chap. XI. 



