Page:Route Across the Rocky Mountains with a Description of Oregon and California.djvu/101



the hall, which was twenty by forty feet, were lined, with persons of every age. The music, which consisted of two guitars and a violin, occupied one end, while the other was filled up by several tables, upon which were heaped indiscriminately, hats, cloaks, coats, and shawls, and the board bearing the sweet breads, wines, &c., which completed the circle, and occupied a large portion of the room. The hall was well lighted, by lamps, suspended from the walls and ceiling; in short, every thing was very well regulated, except only, the disposition of the sexes. A young don now stepped into the middle of the floor, gave a few shuffles, and the music commenced. He began to pat, or rather to stamp the tune, flat footed: which he continued, without variation, until he had gone through all the different parts of the air. During this time, he had moved to the farther end of the hall, and back again to his starting place; and so exactly had he calculated the measure of his step, that he had occupied precisely the same space of time, in accomplishing his circuit, that he was required by the musician, in completing the tune. He then walked up to a young lady, and began clapping his hands in her face, in a manner that reminded us, of a young Hoosier, scaring black birds out of a corn field, or encouraging a lazy cur to take hold of some rascally pig; but we soon learned, that he was only inviting her to dance. So, after clapping his hands half a dozen times, he retired to his seat, and the lady came on to the floor, and went through the same patting and stamping, which the gentleman had done. This mode of dancing had continued for some time, when one of the fair, who was occupying the floor; from fancy, curiosity, or politeness, danced up to an American, and began clapping her hands in his face. Our countryman was evidently very much embarrassed; he blushed, reddened, and at last, after several hems and hawks, stammered out, “No, sarvy.” Not at all discouraged at this failure, and resolved, as it seemed, on seeing an American dance; she turned, and went waltzing up to our friend, who by the way, was not easily dashed, though not much of a dancer. “What could I do,” said he afterward; “I could not dance in their style, I knew; and but very little in any other: if I took the floor, I might reasonably expect to fail, and so be laughed at, for an awkward American; if I refused, I should be riduculed for my timidity, and want of gallantry. While thinking thus,” said he, “the lady was all the while, with a most persuasive smile, bowing, clapping her hands, and urging her entreaties, with all the English she was acquainted with. I turned my head, saw some of the company beginning