CHAP. XIV. THE SAKALAVA WAR-DANCE. 399 



The dancing was commenced by the Sakalavas, inhabitants 

 of the western parts of the island. The Sakalava band of 

 native instruments inckided a large di'um hollowed out of a 

 solid piece of wood, with several smaller ones, and tomtoms 

 or tambourines, apparently of Asiatic origin, the drum exactly 

 resembling those I had seen in Ceylon. Four men arrayed 

 as warriors, wearing singularly-shaped scarlet caps, having a 

 broad scarlet lappet hanging down behind, with muskets in 

 their hands, and powder horns slung at their sides, and the 

 Malagasy ornament or charm of silver crocodile's teeth fast- 

 ened in front of their girdles or sashes, followed this band, led 

 by a sort of chief whose business seemed to be to indicate the 

 movements of the dance. The dancers were tall, light-made 

 men. Commencing their performance as soon as they en- 

 tered the court, they continued passing from side to side of 

 the open space in the centre, making a sort of zigzag course 

 until they came immediately in front of the queen. The 

 musician then gave three or four loud strokes on the large 

 drum, while the dancers bowed before her majesty, and then 

 retired to the side. 



These were followed by four or five other sets of Sakalava 

 dancers of four each, who, entering by the gate, danced along 

 each party with a different figure or step until they came 

 before the queen, when they bowed and retired. In addition 

 to the musket in the right hand, one or two of the sets held 

 a silk handkerchief or small scarf in the left. Their move- 

 ments were light and easy ; but for the most part measured 

 and slow, except in those passages which appeared designed 

 to represent the more exciting movements of battle, the 

 assault, the strife, the pursuit, and the triumph. There was 

 no shouting, and even these movements, though the muskets 

 were sometimes thrown up in the air and caught as they fell, 

 were restrained and moderate, according but little with the 

 ideas we are accustomed to associate with the war-dance of 



