CHAP, vu.] DESCKIPTION OF DANCES. 215 



ali'eady filled with people wlio tallied and flirted just 

 as though they were in an English ball-room. 



There was a man with a feeble guitar, or banjo, 

 in one corner, and a powerful performer on the tom- 

 tom in front of him. The first dance was remarkable 

 as a display of dexterity, though I hardly think of 

 elegance ; it was undertaken by twelve or fourteen 

 gentlemen, all the others looking on. The dancers 

 were ranlved in double files, and dos-d-dos ; they then 

 " passeed " from side to side with a tripping operatic 

 step, but a wary and cautious eye. Every now and ' 

 then one of the performers spun suddenly round, 

 and gave a most terrific kick right at the seat of 

 honour of the gentleman whom he then found in front 

 of him. This was the dance ; there was a gTeat deal 

 of dexterity shown both in delivering and avoiding" the 

 kick which, when successfully planted, hit with the 

 force of a donkey's hoof. I observed that the three 

 courtiers danced very well and very successfully, indeed 

 I would not have found myself dos-d-dos with Tippoo 

 for any consideration. The ladies applauded the 

 dance most vociferously. After this came a prome- 

 nade ; we were all jammed together into a compact 

 mass, and then stepi^ed round and round the court 

 to the sound of the tom-tom, tapping the ground with 

 our feet in regular time. Dance number three was 

 for the Bushmen, a large kraal of whom lay close by 

 Nangoro's palisading ; they are his body-guard. This 

 dance was entirely mimicrj^ either of animal steps or 

 anything else they lilved, and then a grand promenade 

 closed the evening. I saw only thirty or forty of 



