A Chinese Trader Was In
The House, And He, Too, Wanted Men The Next Day; But On His
Hinting This To The Orang Kaya, He Was Sternly Told That A White
Man's Business Was Now Being Discussed, And He Must Wait Another
Day Before His Could Be Thought About.
After the "bitchara "was over and the old chiefs gone, I asked
the young men to play or dance, or amuse themselves in their
accustomed way; and after some little hesitation they agreed to
do so.
They first had a trial of strength, two boys sitting
opposite each other, foot being placed against foot, and a stout
stick grasped by both their hands. Each then tried to throw
himself back, so as to raise his adversary up from the ground,
either by main strength or by a sudden effort. Then one of the
men would try his strength against two or three of the boys; and
afterwards they each grasped their own ankle with a hand, and
while one stood as firm as he could, the other swung himself
around on one leg, so as to strike the other's free leg, and try
to overthrow him. When these games had been played all around with
varying success, we had a novel kind of concert. Some placed a
leg across the knee, and struck the fingers sharply on the ankle,
others beat their arms against their sides like a cock when he
is going to crow, this making a great variety of clapping sounds,
while another with his hand under his armpit produced a deep
trumpet note; and, as they all kept time very well, the effect
was by no means unpleasing.
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