28 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



sonate a woman ; he wore a wig parted in the 

 middle and drawn down over the ears, an 

 imitation of the old-fashioned " cottage bonnet " 

 in brass, turned back at the edge — (which 

 must have been frightfully heavy) — a quantity 

 of jewellery, a muslin dress and a shawl-like 

 covering over the shoulders. They prefaced 

 the dance by a sort of prelude on the so-called 

 musical instruments, then a man stepped for- 

 ward singing, in a slow sort of chanting way, 

 then another joined in what appeared a kind of 

 dialogue duet always getting faster ; at length 

 the lady rushed quickly to the front, performing 

 the most extraordinary gyrations, turning first 

 to one and then to the other, she sang at them 

 both in a shrill scolding voice. These three 

 men were evidently the principal performers, 

 the others acted the part of chorus, chiming 

 in occasionally whilst the tom-toms marked 

 time. I have not the least idea what it was 

 all about, but I imagine that the two men 

 were suitors for the lady's hand, and that she 

 wavered between the two, as many other 

 ladies do. The singing was not melodious, but 

 the good time kept, and the graceful rhyth- 

 mical movement of the feet, was very pleasant 

 to watch. Whilst this grand ballet was being 

 executed, at the side under the palms two men 

 with long lances were having a sham en- 

 counter ; at last they got so excited, that it 



