A Wedding Dance. 93 



on the sand, and the natives arranged themselves in a semi- 

 circle in front of us. Behind stood the old women, and in 

 front of them the young men and girls ; while the old men 

 and children grouped themselves in various attitudes at 

 each side. Of musical instruments there were none, not 

 even a tom-tom, but time and incentive were given by a 

 somewhat droning chant accompanied with clapping of 

 hands. As yet there seemed no inclination to dance, 

 and a nudging and pushing in the ring of singers 

 indicated unwillingness on someone's part to perform 

 what woman does not understand the value of 

 coquetry ? At length a girl was pushed out of the ring, 

 but she coyly darted back, only to be pushed out again. 

 Then, standing upright for a moment, she began the 

 dance. Putting one bare foot forward and throwing her 

 head right back, with her full bosom thrust out and 

 her hands on her hips, she slowly advanced, swaying 

 from side to side and turning and moving her head in 

 time to the music. Every movement was slow and care- 

 ful as though the dance were a difficult balancing 

 feat, and the performance reminded one of the strutting 

 and nodding of an amorous pigeon. Behind the 

 girl walked a young man, clapping his hands in time 

 to the chant, while both he and the dancer uttered an 

 extraordinary guttural grunting sound which seemed to 



