DANCES. 
233 
up a wild and piercing noise, most deafening and 
ungrateful to the ears. 
The natives of the Rufus and Lake Victoria 
(Tar-ru) have a great variety of dances and figures. 
One of these, which I witnessed, representing the 
character, habits, and chase of the kangaroo was 
admirably performed, and would have drawn down 
thunders of applause at any theatre in Europe. One 
part of this figure, where the whole of the dancers 
successively drop down from a standing to a crouch- 
ing posture, and then hop off in this position with 
outstretched arms and legs, was excellently executed. 
The contrast of their sable skins with the broad 
white stripes painted down their legs ; their peculiar 
attitudes, and the order and regularity with which 
these were kept, as they moved in a large semi- 
circle, in the softening light of the fire, produced a 
striking effect ; and in connection with the wild and 
inspiriting song, which gave an impulse to their 
gesticulation, led me almost to believe that the scene 
was unearthly. 
In some of the dances the music varies rapidly 
from slow to quick, and the movements alter accord- 
ingly. In some they are altogether measured and 
monotonous, in others very lively and quick, keep- 
ing the performers almost constantly at a double 
quick march, moving in advance and retreat, cross- 
ing past or threading through the ranks, and using a 
kind of motion with the feet in unison with the 
music, that bears a strong resemblance to the Euro-* 
