ciiAr. XIV. DANCING OF THE YOUNG PRINCES AND NOBLES. 401 



court circle and came to the centre. The ladies were gorgeously 

 attired in silk and satin, with a profusion of head ornaments, 

 pearls and other necklaces, and bracelets. The men all wore 

 silk Spanish dresses, short jackets with slashed sleeves, silk 

 trowsers, slashed, and shoe's to match, and embroidered caps 

 adorned with ostrich feathers. The son of Eadama's sister, a 

 fine young man about twenty-five, and the daughter of Prince 

 Eamonja, were the first couple, and led the dance. Dancing 

 seemed to be grave work with them all. I rarely saw more 

 than a social smile, and should think scarcely a dozen words 

 were exchanged by the dancers, who, while dancing, seemed 

 to be wholly absorbed with the figure and the step. The 

 music was European, and so were the dances. 



Soon after these had bowed to the queen and resumed 

 their seats, seven couples of the younger members of the royal 

 and noble families came forward. Their ages might range 

 between fifteen and eighteen. The son of Prince Ramboasa- 

 lama, the handsomest youth I had seen, was splendidly 

 dressed in a suit of scarlet and gold, with a cap of the same, 

 and ostrich plume. The son of the proprietor of the house 

 in which the queen had given her dinner and an interesting- 

 looking young girl led off the dance. The youth was dressed 

 in jacket and pantaloons of green velvet studded with gold, 

 over which hung a mantle of purple velvet embroidered with 

 a deep gold border. His partner also wore a dress of purple 

 velvet with gold embroidery. The dress of the remaining 

 couples was equally rich and splendid. 



The Frenchmen seemed to be highly gratified with the 

 gorgeous spectacle, which continued until nearly four o'clock ; 

 when the dancing ceased and the court retired. WTien the 

 nobles had nearly all left the balcony, the prince rose, and led 

 his mother, who seemed glad of the support of his arm, into 

 the palace; while we, mingling with the crowd of officers 

 and guests moving towards the gate, bowed and departed, 



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