CHAi'. xin. DANCING BEFORE THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS. 371 



the best. I told them some kinds in both countries were 

 very good, and so was the music of Grermany, in some re- 

 spects, better than either. They asked about the singing 

 and dancing of these countries, to Avhich I replied that there 

 w^as much feeling in the singing of the Italians, and that the 

 dancing of the Italian peasants was the most pleasing of any 

 I had seen. They became much interested, and as the house 

 in which we were seated was small, gave orders to proceed to 

 Isoaierana, the mansion I had previously visited with the 

 prince, about two miles distant. On arriving at this place 

 the officers again formed a circle round the door, until the 

 prince and princess had entered and invited them to follow, 

 after which they entered. We assembled in the spacious 

 saloon or hall, with the band at one end. After conversing 

 some time, the band struck uj?. Eight young men danced 

 first. Four officers and the court ladies then danced 

 what was called an English country-dance, and I was ap- 

 pealed to as to its being veritably such, but was again obliged 

 to express my ignorance on the subject. At the close of each 

 dance the dancers came and made a low obeisance before the 

 prince and princess, and then returned to their seats. 



The music continued, with occasional intervals of conver- 

 sation, until five o'clock, when the prince and princess rose. 

 The prince, who had treated the princess with the most 

 marked attention throughout the day, now led her to her 

 palanquin, and then entered his owti. I was amused at the 

 rush and bustle which the departure of the prince and prin- 

 cess occasioned in collecting bearers, and bringing the palan- 

 quins and horses to the front of the house where the owners 

 were in waiting for them, as etiquette required that all the 

 other palanquins should precede those of the prince and his 

 consort. 



We took the road by which I had returned with the prince 

 on the previous occasion. There are two encampments in 



B B 2 



