CHILIAN DANCE. 



13 



I met at the Ramadas, upon another occasion, 

 a family to whose kind attentions we are all much 

 indebted, especially for their assistance in explain- 

 ing the native customs. We visited together ma- 

 ny of the booths, and had an opportunity of see- 

 ing more of the dancing than on the first night. 

 One of the most favourite figures begins in a man- 

 ner not unlike our minuet, with slow and appa- 

 rently unpremeditated movements, the parties 

 approaching and receding from each other, oc- 

 casionally joining hands, swinging themselves 

 round, and sometimes stooping, so as to pass 

 under each other's arms. These figures, while 

 they admit of the display of much ease and grace, 

 inevitably betray any awkwardness of manner. 

 The slow movements last a minute or two, after 

 which the measure suddenly changes from a dull 

 monotonous tune to a quick and varied air, loud- 

 ly accompanied by the drum and a full chorus of 

 shrill voices. At this instant the two dancers 

 commence a sort of shuffling step, during which 

 the feet do not slide, but rather stamp with 

 great rapidity on the ground. The dancers then 

 dart forward towards each other, waving their 



