230 
CRUISE OF H.3IS. CHALLENGER. 
scape, and the many-coloured bright flowers, and 
trailers hanging over hanks of rivers that flow into 
the sea. 
With the proverbial kindness and courtesy of the 
Spanish officials, a pleasing entertainment was ar- 
ranged for us during the only evening of our stay. 
On landing it was found that the upper room of the 
large house of the Captain of the Port had been 
prepared for the occasion, and was pretty well filled 
with a number of Moros Indians from Malagahi (the 
hill tribes), who were busily preparing to give us a 
national dance. The musicians were mostly women, 
who played with drum-sticks on gongs of various 
sizes, arranged in sets of ten or twelve in number, 
and on instruments formed of long metallic bars and 
strips of bamboo on strings stretched across frames, 
besides flutes, drums, and a curious two-stringed 
fiddle. The variety of sounds produced was both 
harmonious and pleasing. "When all was ready, at a 
given signal, the dancers sprang to their feet, and 
soon we had a sight not easily forgotten. 
The performers, principally girls, were dressed in 
bright and gorgeous costumes, in silk, satin, and gold 
embroidery, with rings, armlets and jewellery. Their 
pleasing and easy motion, the graceful attitudes and 
movements of their body and arms, had a novel effect, 
and on its conclusion we could be no other than 
highly pleased with the treat. There was a large 
attendance of Spanish officials, both of the navy and 
