ciiap. xiv. DANCING OF THE YOUNG PRINCES AND NOBLES. 401 
court circle and came to the centre. The ladies were gorgeously 
attired in silk and satin, with a profusion of head ornaments, 
pearls and other necklaces, and bracelets. The men all wore 
silk Spanish dresses, short jackets with slashed sleeves, silk 
trowsers, slashed, and shoes to match, also embroidered caps 
adorned with ostrich feathers. The son of Eadama’s sister, a 
fine young man about twenty-five, and the daughter of Prince 
Ramonja, were the first couple, and led the dance. Dancing 
seemed to be grave work with them all. I rarely saw more 
than a social smile, and should think scarcely a dozen words 
were exchanged by the dancers, who, while dancing, seemed 
to be wholly absorbed with the figure and the step. The 
music was European, and so were the dances. 
Soon after these had bowed to the queen and resumed 
their seats, seven couples of the younger members of the royal 
and noble families came forward. Their ages might range 
between fifteen and eighteen. The son of Prince Eamboasa- 
lama, the handsomest youth I had seen, was splendidly 
dressed in a suit of scarlet and gold, with a cap of the same, 
and ostrich plume. The son of the proprietor of the house 
in which the queen had given her dinner and an interesting- 
looking young girl led off the dance. The youth was dressed 
in jacket and pantaloons of green velvet studded with gold, 
over which hung a mantle of purple velvet embroidered with 
a deep gold border. His partner also wore a dress of purple 
velvet with gold embroidery. The dress of the remaining 
couples was equally rich and splendid. 
The Frenchmen seemed to be highly gratified with the 
gorgeous spectacle, which continued until nearly four o’clock; 
when the dancing ceased and the court retired. When the 
nobles had nearly all left the balcony, the prince rose, and led 
his mother, who seemed glad of the support of his arm, into 
the palace; while we, mingling with the crowd of officers 
and guests moving towards the gate, bowed and departed. 
D D 
