Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/181

CH. XI.] credit for; for, crowding, as they are accustomed to do, about the outer ranks of the dancers, they serve as a screen to the blunders of the awkward and diffident, and excite, by their notice, the exertions of those who dance for applause, in the ill-dissembled confidence of their pretensions: — neither pretensions nor confidence were wanting on the present occasion. The music consisted of eight guitars, played with wonderful effect: for the musicians took different parts, and seemed, occasionally, almost to forget they were playing the same tune; so strongly marked were the variations of each performer: but the effect was delightful, and the precision with which they kept their time, considering how they were travelling away from each other, very remarkable,—comparable, indeed, with nothing but the harmonious system of our English mail-coach guards; who, with their patent locked time-keepers, all travel different ways, yet come home, to the instant, without regarding their respective bars, whether they be those of