THROUGH FINLxYND. 
3 2 9 
our appearance feemed at fird to lay Tome degree of redraint upon 
the dancers. The only one among them who fhewed he was not 
to be difcompofed w r as the fidler, who continued diligently in the 
practice of his calling ; for he was blind, and confequently knew 
nothing of what happened around him. Thefe peafants, how¬ 
ever, foon became familiar with our foreign afpecd; and being 
entreated to proceed and fhew us their dance, they refumed their 
places. 
Their dancing confided in the moft ruftic jumping, without 
the fmalleft grace, mixed with certain capers ; in executing which 
the women made their petticoats fly about in the air. There was 
no variety in their deps, nor padion in their attitudes, nor expref- 
fion in any one of their countenances. They danced with the 
fame earned: diligence that would have influenced them in the 
performance of any thing by which they were to have gained their 
bread. The only variety that entered into this exercife, was a 
difference in the pofition of their arms, which they alternately 
laid one over the other, in a very aukward manner, without dis¬ 
covering the mod: didant notion of tafte or natural grace. It was 
fomewhat curious to obferve thofe people amufing themfelves with 
fuch a ferious air, and without even having the fmalleft difpofi- 
tion to fmile. A pot of beer was placed upon the table, w hich 
every body might make free with, but was ufed only to quench 
third:. It was fo weak, however, and reduced fo much with w ; a- 
ter, that it could neither ffupify the fenfes, nor raife the fpirits of 
the company. Every creature, even the mufician was quite fober, 
Vol. I. TJ u a very 
