298 



INDIAN AND OTHER 



nounce, opine, listen, and obey. Man is not truly sensible of 

 his dignity, unless when the ties and dependencies of society 

 enable him to establish a comparison between himself and his 

 fellow-creatures. He then begins to modify his chara6ler, to re- 

 spect himself, and to form, relatively to his existence, an idea 

 infinitely more advantageous than the one he entertained, 

 when he lived, in the company of wild beasts, on the moun- 

 tains, and in the forests. 



The rapidity with which these negroes pass from one ex- 

 treme of gravity to another of noise, turbulence, and disorder, 

 is equally deserving of admiration. The hour of consultation 

 being expired, the dancing commences, and continues until 

 seven or eight in the evening. The walls of their quarters, 

 more particularly withinside, are covered with figures which 

 represent their primitive kings, their battles, and their re- 

 joicings. The sight of these grotesque paintings inflames and 

 transports them. It has been frequently noticed, that the fes- 

 tivals which are celebrated withoutside these negro receptacles, 

 and at a distance from their painted images, are of short du- 

 ration, and destitute of any display of enthusiasm. In reality ,^ 

 the balls which are thus publicly given, do not possess any at- 

 tractions, and are, besides, repugnant to the delicacy of our 

 customs. When one of the negroes dances without a partner, 

 which most commonly happens, he leaps confusedly in every 

 diredlion, and twirls on his feet with violence, without direct- 

 ing his view to any objedt. All the address of the dancer con- 

 sists in holding out for a considerable length of time, and in 

 keeping, in the inflections of the body, within the limits of 

 the pauses of those who sing in the circle. If two or four 

 dance at the same time, the men first place themselves in front 



of 



