^8 defcrlpilon of a ^aUtch. ydn. 4. 



used for ornament. The women had their faces wash- 

 ed, and clean clothes, — ^had abundance of rings on their 

 fingers, and coral or amber beads, bugles, ii'c'. on their 

 hands and necks ; and each wore a small round hat, the 

 shape and size of those worn by our female stage-dancers. 

 Covered with circles of small white shells. They form- 

 ed a ring; the men and women in opposite semicircles; 

 and five men were in the middle of it. They danced to 

 their own singing, moving slowly round, in a half hop- 

 step, keeping time with their hands, while the five in the 

 fcentre whirled round and cut capers, with many strange 

 motions, which I attempt not to describe. The second 

 part of the entertainment was performed by four men 

 with \vinged rainbow-coloured caps, who jumped and 

 ■wheeled about to the clashing of cymbals and beating 

 of tabors ; among the rest was a merry-andrew, witli a 

 a mask stuck over with small shells, and a clown with 

 a large stick in his hand : These two were more agile 

 tlian the others ; they carried on an occasional dia- 

 logue, which appeared to afford great entertainment to 

 those who understood their grimaced gestures ; but as 

 I was not so fortunate as to understand them, I was o- 

 bliged to seek amusement in contemplating the various 

 scene before me, and the effects it produced on the nu- 

 merous spectators. 



