254 RESIDENCE AT LATTAKOO. [1813. 
resumed their former aspect, as if nothing had hap- 
pened. 
Our attention was next attracted by a croud of 
women approaching the square, holding long rods in 
their hands, and their faces disfigured by white painted 
strokes in various forms. They marched at a slow- 
pace, closely crouded together, making such bawling 
as required adamantine lungs and throats of brass. 
They were preceded by a number of matrons dancing 
and screaming. On reaching the entrance to the 
square, there was a feigned battle between the aged and 
the younger women, which the younger were allowed 
to gain, when they entered in triumph. The people 
then formed a large circle, six or eight persons deep, 
when upwards of forty girls entered, from twelve to 
sixteen years of age, having their persons whitened with 
chalk. They danced in a kind of measured irregu- 
larity, striking the ground most violently with their 
feet. Many of them had small shields in their hands, 
which they moved very dexterously in front of all 
parts of their bodies, as if warding off arrows shot 
against them. Every one's eyes were constantly fixed 
on the ground, and they retained a gravity of coun- 
tenance the whole time, which I shall not soon forget. 
After dancing about a quarter of an hour, on some 
signal given, they instantly retired from the circle, 
were out of sight a few minutes, when they returned 
and immediately commenced dancing in the same man- 
ner. This dancing, retiring, and returning, continued 
about an hour and a half, when the meeting broke up. 
