66 
A BUSHMAN DANCE. 
6, 7 March, 
are here given precisely as they were sung in the hut, and repeated 
during the whole time, with scarcely the least variation. The measure 
of time was exactly half a second to each crotchet, or two seconds to 
a bar. The upper notes were sung by the company ; those of the 
middle line, by the dancer ; while those in the bass clef express the 
beating of the water-drum. 
4-^ 
Ave 
O Aye O Aye 
O 
iHii 
Aye eh Aye 
o o 
o 
WTJL 
1Z2 
Wawa koo Wawa koo Wawa koo ^Vawa koo Wavva koo Wawa koo 
I find it impossible to give by means of mere description, a correct 
idea, either of the pleasing impressions received while viewing this 
scene, or of the kind of effect which the evening's amusement pro- 
duced upon my mind and feelings. It must be seen ; it must be 
participated in : without which, it would not be easy to imagine its 
force, or justly to conceive its nature. There was, in this amusement, 
nothing: which can make me ashamed to confess that I derived as 
much enjoyment from it, as the natives themselves : there was nothing 
in it which approached to vulgarity ; and in this point of view, it 
would be an injustice to these poor creatures not to place them in a 
more respectable rank, than that to which the notions of Europeans 
have generally admitted them. It was not rude laughter and boisterous 
mirth, nor drunken jokes, nor noisy talk, which passed their hours 
away ; but tlie peaceful, calm emotions of harmless pleasure. Had I 
never seen and known more of these savages than the occurrences of 
this day, and the pastimes of this evening, I should not have hesitated 
to declare them the happiest of mortals. Free from care, and pleased 
with a little, their life seemed flowing on, like a smooth stream gliding 
through flowery meads. Thoughtless and unreflecting, they laughed 
and smiled the hours away, heedless of futurity, and forgetful of the 
past. Their music softened all their passions ; and thus they lulled 
