The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-02-04
AN OLD-TIME NEGRO DANCE: THE
GATHERING

From George W. Cables illustrated
paper, in the February CENTURY, &C
cOinpaniei by the mBsic Of tie Creole
dances, we quote the following: 1T
was 3 weird one. The negro Of colon
ial Louisiana was q mOst.grotesque
figure. He was nearly naked. Often
his neck and arms, thighs, shAnks,
and splay feet were sbrunken, tough
sinegy like a mOnkie's. sometimes
it was scant diet aud cruel labor that
had made them 50. Even the require
ment Of law was only that he should
have not less than barrel Of corn
nothing elsa month, nor get more
than thirty lsshes 20 the tWenty-four
hours. The whole world was erueler
those times than now we must not
judge them by our own.
"Often the slaves attire was only a
cotton shirt. or a pair Of pantalO0ns
hanging ia indecent tatters to his
naked waist. The bond-wOmau was
vel clad who had on as much as a
coarse chemise aud pettieOAt. To add
tignOn-a. Madras handkerchief twis-
ted into a turban-was high gentility,
and the number of handkerchief
beyond that one was the measure Of
absolute wealth. Some were rich IN
tlgnOss !; especially those who served
within the house, and pleased the
mistress, or even the mastOr-tbere
were Hagars 10 those days. However,
Congo Plains did not gather the house
servants 50 much ss the 'held-hands.n
These came in troops. See them (;
wilder than gypsaes wilder than the
MOOrs and Arabs whose strong blood
and features one sees at a glance in 50
many Of them ;gaBgs-as they were
called-gangs aud gangs of them,
from this and that and yOnder diree-
ton tall, well-knit Senegalese from
Cape Verde, black as ebnny, Mandln-
goes, from the Gambia River, lighter
of color, Of cruder form, and cunning
that shows In the cOuntenanee whose
enslayement seems specially q shame,
their nation the merchants Of Africa
dwelling in towns industrious, thrifty,
skilled ia commerce aud husbandry,
and expert In the working OF metals,
even 10 silver and gold: aud F0ulahs.
playfully miscalled POulards,-fat
chickens,-Of gOOdiy stature, aud
with a pereeptible rose tint in the
cheeks; and SOsOs, famous warriors,
dexterOus with the African large; and
in contrast 20 these, with small ears,
thick eyebrows, bright eyes. fiat, up
turned noses, shining skin. wide
mouths and white teeth, the negTOs of
Guinea, true and unmixed, from the
Gold Coast, the Slave Coast, aud the
Cape Of Palms-nOt from the Grain
Coast the English had that trade.
See them cOnie! POpOes, COtOcOlies,
Fidas, SOeoes, .Agwas, short. copper
colOred Mines what havoc the slav-
ers did make land from interior
Africa Others equally proud and war
like;fieTCe NagOvs aud Ponds; tawny
Awdssas; IbOes, so iight-cOlOred that
one could not tell them from nlulat-
toes but for their national fatOOiDg;
aud the halfcjvilized aud quick witted
hut ferocious Arada, the original Won
dou wOrshipper Aud how many mOrei
For here come, also, men aud NOmen
from that great Congo COast, -Angoio
Malimbe, Ambrice, etc.-small, good
natured sprighuy boys, aud gay, gar
ruloas gals thick-lippsd but not tat
tOed; chattering, chaiiering, singing,
and gufiawiug a. they come; these are
they for whom the dance and place
are named, the most numerous SORT OF
negroes in the colonies, the CongOes
aud Fane-COngOes, and though ser
pent wOrshipers, yet the gsntiesi
aud kindliest natures that came from
Africa. such was the company.
Among these b0ss1Ls-that IL, native
Atricans-theFe was, OF course, an
ever growing number negrOs who
proudly call themselves Creole ne
grUs, that Is. born in America; aud at
the present time there is only here
and there an old native African to be
met with, vain Of his singularity and
trembling on his staff"