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PUBLIC FESTIVALS

“ loud and powerful sound. They vary the“ strength and rate of their beating at different“ parts of the dance, and also change their“ tones, by beating in the 'middle, or near the“ end of their drum.

“ The first dance* consisted of four ranks of“ twenty-four men each, holding in their hands“ a little thin, light, wooden instrument, above“ two feet long, and in shape not unlike a small“ oblong paddle: with these, which are called“ paggc, they make a great many different mo-“ tions, such as pointing them toward the“ ground on one side, at the same time inclin-“ ing their bodies that way, from which they“ were shifted to the opposite side, in the same“ manner; then passing them quickly from one“ hand to the other, and twirling them about“ very dexterously; with a variety of other ma-“ noeuvres, all which were accompanied by“ corresponding attitudes of the body. Their“ motions were at first slow, but quickened as“ the drums beat faster; and they recited sen-“ fences in a musical tone the whole time, which“ were answered by the chorus ; but at the end“ of a short space they all joined, and finished“ with a shout.

“ After ceasing about two or three minutes,“ they began as before, and continued with* This is tiie dance called mee too buggi.