DANCES. 145 



chief, arrived on the scene, between thirty and forty men arran<^ed 

 themselves in a circle, each carrying his pan-pipe. They began by 

 playing an air in slow time, accompanying the music by a slight 

 swaying motion of the body, and by alternately raising each foot. 

 Then the notes became more lively and the movements of the 

 dancers more brisk. The larger pipes took the part of the bass in 

 a rude but harmonious symphony, whilst the monotonous air was 

 repeated without much variation in the higher key of the smaller 

 instruments. At times one of the younger men stopped in the 

 centre of the ring, tomahawk in hand, and whilst he assumed a 

 half-stooping posture, with his face looking upwards, the musicians 

 dwelt on the same note which became gradually quicker and louder, 

 whilst the dancing became more brisk, until, when the tip-toe of 

 expectation was apparently reached, and one was beginning to feel 

 that something ought to happen, the man in the centre who had 

 been hitherto motionless, swung back a leg, stuck his tomahawk in 

 the ground, and one's feelings were relieved by the dull monotone 

 suddenly breaking off into a lively native air. . . On another occa- 

 sion, I was present at a funeral or mourning dance, which was held 

 in connection with the death of the principal wife of the Alu chief. 

 It will be found described on page 48. 



I will conclude this chapter by alluding to a favourite game of 

 the Treasury boys which reminded me somewhat of our English 

 game of peg-tops. An oval pebble about two inches long is placed 

 on a leaf on the ground. Each boy then takes a similar pebble, 

 around which a piece of twine is wound ; and standing about eight 

 feet away, he endeavours in the following manner to throw it so as 

 to fall on the pebble on the ground. The end of the twine is held 

 between his fingers ; and as the twine uncoils, he jerks it backwai'ds 

 and brings his pebble with considerable force on top of the other. 



