[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

PORT OLRY AND A “SING-SING” 129

fire and hear the rough voices of men and the
shrill singing of women.

Unnoticed, we entered the dancing-ground. A
number of men were standing in a circle round a
huge fire, their silhouettes cutting sharply into the
red glare. Out of a tangle of clubs, rifles, plumes,
curly wigs, round heads, bows and violently gesticu-
lating arms, sounds an irregular shrieking, yelling,
whistling and howling, uniting occasionally to a
monotonous song. The men stamp the measure,
some begin to whirl about, others rush towards the
fire; now and then a huge log breaks in two and
crowns the dark, excited crowd with a brilliant
column of circling sparks. Then everybody yells
delightedly, and the shouting and dancing sets in
with renewed vigour. Everyone is hoarse, panting
and covered with perspiration, which paints light
streaks on the sooty faces and bodies.

Noticing us, a man rushes playfully towards us,
threateningly swinging his club, his eyes and teeth
shining in the darkness; then he returns to the
shouting, dancing mob around the fire. Half-grown
- boys sneak through the crowd; they are the most
excited of all, and stamp the ground wildly with
their disproportionately large feet, kicking and shriek-
ing in unpleasant ecstasy. All this goes on among
the guests; the hosts keep a little apart, near a
scaffolding, on which yarns are attached. The men
circle slowly round this altar, carrying decorated
bamboos, with which they mark the measure, stamp-

ing them on the ground with a thud. They sing
9