BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 541 



" of the ladies are fo exceifivcly fond of it, that, fay what I will, they 

 *' loiil dmice on.''' 



The do£lor very rightly concludes his foli':oquy, in defpair of pre- 

 vailing on his fair audience to defiftfrom art amulement fo delightful to 

 them, and, in my opinion, fo innocent, if not carried to excefs. I fear 

 the docftor forgot his reading, when he afferted that no fuch diverfion 

 was in ufe in the Kailern hot countries; there are none of them, per- 

 hajTS, where it is not in ufe: we find it in Afia, in Africa, and every 

 part of America. The Indians of South America are particularlv fond 

 of it; even the grave Spaniard here is melted into an affedion for it,- 

 and capers xwfarabands znd faldnngos ; the natives of Jamaica are dan- 

 cers from their infancy. The domeflic life of women, which prevents 

 them from exercifing abroad as much as the other fex, naturally in- 

 clines them to love thofe atlive amuftments which may be followed 

 within doors; dancing therefore, confidered as an exercife, is healthy 

 and proper for them, promotes the circulation of the blood, and re- 

 freflies the fpirits in the mofl agreeable manner, by the chearfulnefs 

 and gaiety Vv'hich it infpires. In Jamaica, indeed, it is fcarcely to be 

 called an exercife within doors; the windows are all thrown open, and 

 the dancers enjoy a conflant fucceffion of frefh air. It is very different 

 here in its effefts from what it is in cold countries, where the heat, and 

 offenfive fmell of fires and lights, and the atmofphere of a clofe apart- 

 ment, from which the external air is carefully excluded, and which is 

 further vitiated by the breath and copious perfpiration of a multitude 

 of perfons crovvded together, make it producllve of no faliitary confe- 

 quence. It has rarely been prejudicial in Jamaica, except where com- 

 mon prudence was wanting afterwards, and the parties have carelefsly 

 expofed themfelves, when in a prnfufe perfpiration, to the damp and 

 chilling midnight air. They, who are more cautious, cloathe them- 

 felves properly on going home, put on dry, well-aired linen, take a lit- 

 tle draught of fome warm liquor at getting into bed, and feldom feel 

 any bad etfed, even after what fome may think an excefs; the princi- 

 pal reafon for which maybe, that the pleafure and vivacity, infeparable 

 from it, in fome meafure counteratl the laffitude which fo much mo- 

 tion (mechanically confidered) would naturally bring on, and pre- 

 p:n-e the body for a found and undiiturbed Deep, which refl:ores \e\-y 

 ipeedily the wafte of fpirits ; infomuch , that 1 have known In this ifland, 



a re-- 



