The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-06


evolved" The minuet OF stately meas
ure, the gavo-te of exaggerated grace,
the tarantella of bewildering undula-
ions and ever the very modern
waltz are all significant of certain
eVolutions, but they 90 not sum UP in
movement and give expression by pose
or action to the racial impulses which
md vent in the dances of the Oriental
world. Here we look upon passions OF
love and hate voicing themselves as
naturally in motion as we would in
speech; and it is language beautiful
10 the eye and translated to the ear
by means of various musical devices
according to the resources and pro-
gress of a nation.
In India one sees the nautch dance
amid all the splendor of Parsee fash
ion and high life. The dancers, ar
rayed in amazingly beautiful skirts Of
scarlet and gold, with saris of the
loyeliest tints imaginable, begin the
movement with a slaw pass, swaying
into wild abandon at the ever increas-
Ing violence of tamboora and drum,
until the small brown feet, tight gild-
ed trousers and anklets OF silver and
gold become blurr in the frenzy or
the snake dance. The Griotes of Afri-
ca, clad in jungle simplicity, can be
seen at their native performance II
hospitality has been extended to the
explorer of the Dark Continent, while
the Almes Of Egypt are always Access
sible to the inquisitive eyes of the
tourist. Not so the Igorrote or the
Iiongote of Luzon in the Philippines.
Savages, children of the wilds, the
gold lust has not tainted their blood
and no coin has potency to bring about
the entertainment that has a fascina-
ton unclaimed by any other devotee
of Terpsichore.
Favored and fortunate indeed is the
one who happens upon the scene when
the mood to dance seizes the Bontcc
Igorrote, mood which he can no more
resist than can the hooded cobra the
nautch girls weird melody which
lures him from his hole into captivity.
We had penetrated South and to the
extreme north Of Luzon, and it was
while travelling from Bentoc into the
province of Benguet that fortune
granted our ardent desire to see the
famous dances of the head hunters
Having camped near many of the var
ious bands of head hunters occupying
the great unmapped north, 100000 in
number, we had become accustomed
to the furtive glances of the hostile
and cruel small eyes, and leisurely
with his thick, moist lips, bushy hair
and cruel small eyes, and leisuprely
studied the modes of life with differ
ences and distinctions peculiar to each
tribe. Respecting their evident re-
luctance to receive our oVertures with
any show of good will, we did not dare
intrude the request for a witnessing of
the dance which had been denied us
with sullen fierceness.
The unexpected happened on New
Years eve at Baguio, the Simla OF the
Philippines, when ball was in pro-
gress. It was crisp, exhilarattng
night, moonless and clear as the Arctic
dark; full starred was the sky and
very close, as is the manner of the
heavens in the tropics. Dancing, out
on the canvass spread under the pines,
was in full swing. The post band was
gayly turning its score from two-steD
to Virginia reel, when word went
round that band of Bontoc Igorrotes
was stealing down to watch the fes-
tivites.
Immediately the major of scouts was
beseiged by the women to ask the wan
derers to dance for our delectation. But
he assured the assemblage that he had
no such power, and that no persuasion,
no wiles, could bring about this much
desired performance. He suggested,
however, that we neander III ttrectiJs
of the huge campfire about which were
ranged seats for the convenience OF
those who did not get up circulation by
the vigorous activity of the light fan
tastic Here hot coffee was served
and, while apparently with no other
end in view than that of enjoying the
warming brew, we watched with fas-
cinated interest the sloping ground OBJ
posite and the dense underbrush which
covered it's risiEg sides.
Perhaps it was because expectation
was keyed to the idea of something
hideous and yet notwithstanding,
that the exhibition of a wild poetic
Iliad. set to compelling elemental har-
monies, had double charm to hold
the observer.
The band had been stilled and only
intermittent whispers of the guests Of
the regiment wintering at Camp John
Hay were audible above the soughing
Z .n nhn licrhtr nf the most