ATHENS. 
made in our cars, saying, " Xow you will see 
how the Grecian ladies, who have studied the 
art, are able to dance." The two matrons 
stationed themselves opposite to each other, 
in the centre of the apartment ; and the elder, 
holding a handkerchief at either extremity, 
began the performance, by slowly elevating her 
arms, and singing, accompanied by the clap- 
ping of hands. It was evidently the dance of 
the Gipsies, which we had often seen in Russia, 
particularly in Moscow^; but here it was per- 
formed without any of the agility or the anima- 
tion shewn by the Tzigankies, and had been 
modified into a mere exhibition of affected 
postures, consisting of an alternate elevation 
and depression of the arms and handkerchief, 
attended now and then with a sudden turn 
and most indecorous motion of the body, 
neither of the dancers moving a step from the 
spot on which she had originally placed herself. 
In all this there was nothino- that could remind 
us, even by the most distant similitude, of the 
graceful appearance presented by the female 
Bacchanals, as they are represented upon the 
Grecian vases. But as we had seen something 
(1) See Part I. of these Travels, Vol. I. Chap. IV. pp.79, 80. 
Octavo Edition. 
