BABI DANCE. 89 suddenly they stopped, and this time formed two circleSj the inner one, of men, moving from left to right ; and the outer one, of women, from right to left ; and then a kind of " ladies' chain " ended this part of the performance.

After an interval, the long lines were again made, and while all were keeping up a kind of goose-step in time to the music, first one and then another man danced forward to the women's line, springing often to his own height, and engaged a partner, who, springing forward, joined him in the dance. For five or ten minutes they kept up the jumping, in perfect time with the drums, the partners not springing together, but first the one and then the other. Afterwards a maze dance was performed, but this defies all description.

One Tuesday morning we received a most polite letter, written in French, inviting us to the marriage of an ofiicer, who was about to marry the youthful daughter of one of the principal inhabitants of Lado.

We accepted the invitation with much pleasure, and soon afterwards were visited by a confidential friend of the bridegroom, who asked us to lend him our chairs, knives, and forks. We were glad to be able to comply with his request, but being ignorant of the custom for guests on such occasions to send presents of food, we omitted this courtesy, and were glad to find afterwards that Dr. Emin Bey had made up for our deficiency by sending a large present.