GTJAYRA. 
63 
face now and then, and carving black shadows 
amongst the groups. 
The musicians plucked at the strings of their 
guitars, and a horse tied to a fence stamped in 
the darkness, with a jingle of bit and bridle. 
The music started, and one by one the couples 
moved into the open space and circled in and out 
of the barred shadows. They danced silently, 
whilst their feet made a rustling sound on the 
earthen floor. And always they wore that same 
look of wistful intentness which we had already 
noticed. The men rested their cheek on their 
partner's forehead, or, if of the same height, 
laid cheek to cheek, but there was no abandon¬ 
ment in their attitude. Restrained and mute, 
they went through their intricate steps, whilst 
the music rose and fell in the silence of the 
tropical night. 
What was behind those unfathomable faces ? 
We could not tell. We watched one woman, as 
she came past again and again. As soon as one 
partner took her back to her seat at the end of 
a dance another stepped forward to claim her. 
She was taller than the other women, and 
slight, dressed in a purplish stuff that showed 
the colour of ripe grapes in the chequered light. 
Her face was wide across the brows and high 
cheekbones, her hair simply parted, her mouth 
firm and sad. Being tall, she bent her head 
slightly to rest it against her partner, and this 
lent her an air of gracious dignity that gave her 
