380 -DANCES. 



The Indians who were in my service occa- 

 sionally requested leave to dance in front of my 

 dwelling; I usually complied, and was often 

 much amused. A large fire was made, that we 

 might the better see what was going on ; and 

 that the evening might be rendered more enter- 

 taining, I frequently invited some of my neigh- 

 bours. The dance commenced by two men 

 stepping forwards, and walking round and round, 

 taking a circuit of a few yards ; one of them 

 singing, or rather reciting in a low voice some 

 ditty of his own language, and the other playing 

 upon a shrill pipe; and as they went on, at 

 intervals they gave a hop or a skip ; soon, a 

 woman joined them, and walked after them, 

 and then another man came forwards, and so 

 forth, until a large ring was formed and the pace 

 was quickened. It was always expected that 

 some liquor should be prepared for them, and 

 each of these persons, as they felt inclined to 

 take any of it, stepped out of the ring, and re- 

 turned again as soon as they had drank. They 

 continued dancing as long as any rum was pro- 

 duced, the women as well as the men relishing 

 this, their means of inspiration ; for as the quan- 

 tities were increased, some new song was intro- 

 duced, the tones became louder, and their arti- 

 culation more rapid. 



Thefree people of colour, too, would sometimes 

 dance ; but they only asked permission of me, 



