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AFRICAN MUSIC. 273 |
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on louder and louder, and the choragus giving the warning clap, the whole multitude clapped their hands; the women and children struck up the silver-toned "li, li, li," performing a dance similar to the Chinese hop and skip."
" They then formed triplets and massed themselves together, when a shrill note from the boys, sent them into a confused whirl, round and round, the sub-hierareh and his six assistants going faster and faster, as they acquired momentum, clapping their hands, singing louder than ever, the head priest ducking his body lower and lower, and more energetic, until the dance and the excitement which they all labored under, assumed the appearance of a jubilee medley, composed of waltzes, Dervish-dances, sarabands, fandangos, pirouettes and chasses,the three latter performed by the most youthful of the assembly."
" It must not be forgotten, that all this time the ark and mercy-seat — minus the cherubim — (which was totally omitted from this Abyssinian imitation), stood on the ground near the priests, while a choice number of infantine neophites, manfully rang the merriest chimes, and the instruments of Juniper-wood, the one-stringed banjos, and cymbals, made as much discordant music as was possible under the circumstances. The Ethiops before concluding the entertaiument, raised* once again the Canto Trionfale."
The effect Mr. Stanley says, had a wonderful charm, and the blending of the mass of women'i
•Oaomaasie and Magdala, page 488. |
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