Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/318

312 the evening we saw numbers of both sexes trying to imitate the step. At length, becoming tired of this single handed game, they changed it into a series of waltzes, cotilions, etc., which were performed with such noise and uproar that we verily believe they might have been heard half a mile. It appeared that skill was estimated, by them, in proportion to the amount of sound produced; which was created in two ways: first, by the heavy dancing, and secondly, by yelling at the top of the voice, parts of the tune, which were designed to chime in with the instruments; but which, however, so far from being the case, when half a dozen of those stentorian voices, at once broke forth, it produced such a variety of horrible discords, as could be compared to nothing, but the simultaneous roar of a caravan of African and Asiatic animals. At length came the refreshments, which consisted of cakes, dates, dried figs, and wines, and were handed around by the married ladies. About thirty minutes having been spent in thus reviving the physical strength, the dance again commenced and was continued with great spirit and exertion until a late hour of the night when the weary and drowsy guests retired, and there was an end to the boisterous fandango.

This was a collection of about the fairest samples which the country could afford; and how far inferior were they even to the unlearned and poorer classes in our own country! Selfishness, it is true, is sure to make us have a good opinion of ourselves, and with ourselves, to make us appear favorable in comparison with others. A knowledge of this should generally dictate to us the propriety of not hazarding an expression concerning our own goodness or greatness in such a comparison; but there are instances, and this is one of them, in which there is no possibility of being mistaken. These very people, though they are not aware of it, in all their intercourse with