NOISY REVELS. 463 



dancers and to others more tranquil, who had lain 

 down for the night, and I could perceive by the 

 light of the moon a great improvement in the 

 appearance of their tobes, the whiteness of which 

 was really remarkable, considering the state of dirt 

 and grease I had seen them in during the morning. 

 As this water was also said to be undrinkable, and 

 had a very bad smell, I concluded it to be some 

 mineral water, and determined to visit it the next 

 morning. 



A lucifer match ?md a few dry sticks soon pro- 

 duced a crackling blaze, upon which was thrown a 

 yard or two of the meat rope, that was quickly 

 cooked and as speedily disappeared, and as soon as 

 the dinner things were carried away, and the cloth 

 removed, I joined in the festive revelries, taking 

 part in turns both in the opera and ballet. A 

 spirit of merriment seemed to be abroad, and I saw 

 no reason why I should not join the rest, so 

 picked up an old gourd-shell bottle, sat myself 

 down on the top of my hut, and contributed to the 

 music by thumping a hollow-sounding tune out of 

 the bottom of this primitive tambourine. The 

 dancing circle in front redoubled their efforts, 

 shrieking, laughing, yelling, clapping hands, and 

 hopping on alternate legs around a central figure, 

 who, with body and head now bent forwards, now 

 thrown backwards, slowly pirouetted in a direction 

 contrary to that of the others, whilst with equal 

 vigour, he plied his open hands. Thus they 



