WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 321 



on his homeward route. Before that meal was over Bob became 

 so charmed by the Bishop's good company that he begged his 

 Lordship's acceptance of his cob, an offer, however, which, it need 

 scarcely be added, was most graciously declined. Those two 

 men, the one a poor but honest curate, the other a magnate of 

 unrivalled ability, since that event have both been brought by one 

 sickle to the same level ; but who shall say which of the twain is 

 now the more exalted ? 



When the wrestling at Pleyben had been brought to a close, 

 the bagpipes seemed suddenly inflated with fresh wind and 

 renewed vigour as they struck up a lively air, the. prelude 

 to a wonderful dance called the " Jabadao." It is the Breton 

 Fandango ; and though most popular among the Bretons pur 

 sang, it is utterly unknown beyond the region of Cornouaille. 

 No pen but that of a Frenchman, and he need be a master of 

 the art, could describe intelligibly the saltatory action, the 

 pirouettes, the jigging and figures of the dancers engaged in 

 the "Jabadao." From the name, which so nearly resembles 

 the Spanish word " Zapateo," or the knocking of sabots, the 

 dance probably owes its origin to that country, formerly and in 

 better days the land of song and dance ; but, if it does, the grace 

 and elegance said to distinguish the old Asturian " measure " have 

 certainly not descended to the " Jabadao/' as at present danced 

 by the Breton peasantry. 



The priests, it should be added, were now no longer visible ; 

 the wild turn of the music and the passionate delight with which 

 the young men and maidens dashed into the dance had put them 

 to flight ; and, although there was nothing bordering on indecency 

 in the exhibition, the close contact of the couples and the 

 pirouettes performed by the lady, when her hand was passed 

 over her head, were enough to disturb the virtue of an anchorite. 

 So, perhaps, it was quite as well on their own account that they 

 did not stay to witness the " Jabadao." 



Y 



