pyg:\[ies and itjrest xegr-oes 



.1:] 



This little "[leople is evidently innately mnsieal, altliough so uniiiventi\-e 

 as regards instruments. They have manv different songs, some of 

 which ha\e a melody ofivious even to European ears, a strophe and anti- 

 strojihe, a solo part and a eliorus. The men's ^Xlices are alto, or a high 

 tenor : the little women sing in the shrillest soprano. The nien often 

 hum a tune with tlieir elo>ed li[)S in accompaniment to one of their nnndier 

 wlio is singing at the toji of his voice. They >ometimes ]irefer to give musical 

 performances seated (as in th(.' illustration, where tliey have liorrowed 

 instruments from our camp), two or three thumping drums, all singing, 

 and most of them accom[)anving the song with the drollest mo\'emenis of 

 the h(-ad, arms, and h.odv. Thev will, in fact, " dance " sitting down, 

 rolling their heads, striking the ground with their elliows or the outer side 

 of the thigh, twitching and wagging tlieir round bellies and rocking their 

 whole body liackwards and forwards, and all witli au irresistifile rliythm and 

 liriglit-eved merriment. 'J'heir u[iriglit dances are also full of \ariety, 

 dift'eiing thus from the dull monotony of mo\-ement wliich characterises 

 mo,-t Neu-ro dancino-. On these occasions their gestures are almost graceful 

 (in some dances) aud " stagey," irresistibly recalling (in unconscious parody) 

 the marionette action and affected poses of the short-kilted, hrawny- 



"ffWijiKajsw^.^.-"^ 



208. rvinuEs iiANciNc ; a halt to coxsmi 



TI[K .\EXT I'TiaUE 



limlied Italian ballet-dancers still to be found wearying London audiences 

 at the Opera and in ]>eicester Square. One at least of the Dwarf dance> is 

 grosslv indecent in what it >imulates, although it is danced reverently 



