Rough Notes.—Public Entertainments.—Dancing.—Grotesque
Dance.—Throwing the Spear.—Female
Dress.—Decorations.—Ear-rings.—Wedding-rings.—Anomalous Costume.
The rough notes taken down by the several members of the exploring party
are, of course, not arranged in the order of the subjects, but are
merely memoranda written on the spot from time to time according as the
knowledge was obtained, or the observations made; and in the selections
here laid before the reader, it has been thought best not to attempt any
systematic arrangement, but to present them in their original
miscellaneous form.
While the travellers were at Bath,—which is a city rather distinguished,
like its namesake in England and in Germany, for gaiety, as being a
place of resort to strangers on account of the mineral waters,—they were
invited to several public entertainments of various kinds, and of
different degrees of solemnity and splendour. One lady with whom, among
others, they were conversing on the subject of one of these which they
were about to attend, on being asked, among other inquiries, whether a
ball possessed as much attraction for young people as, they told her, it
does in Europe, replied in the affirmative; though, for her own part,
she said, she liked archery better; but different young people, said
she, differ, you know, in their tastes in respect of amusements.
When the gay party had been assembled,—which was on a lawn of
considerable extent, partially shaded with some fine mimosa and
eucalyptus (gum-tree), under whose shade tents were erected,—the
travellers witnessed with much interest the several diversions that were
going on; and, among others, their notice was called by the lady with
whom they had been conversing the day before to several “games of ball”
of various kinds that were going on; some played by gentlemen alone,
some by ladies, and some by both together; and many of them bearing more
or less resemblance to the English games of cricket, bowls, trap-ball,
tennis, billiards, &c. as well as to others which are common enough
among children in England, but quite unknown among adults.
The travellers laughed heartily (as the ladies did also, on receiving an
explanation) at the mutual mistake they had made about balls: but, on
making more particular inquiries about dancing, they learned that this
was an amusement confined to children; scarcely any ever joining in that
sport except those under thirteen or fourteen years old, and any lively
and good-humoured friend of the children, who joined their game for
their amusement. The sport was in fact “playing at being savages,” the
dances consisting in a ludicrous imitation of those of the aborigines.
These, it is well known, are much given to dancing, in which they
display considerable ingenuity as well as agility and good ear; and
their dances are not merely a recreation, but are also mixed up with
their most important institutions and transactions, being performed with
much solemnity at their “corrobories,” or grand meetings, for the
purpose of deliberating on affairs of state, and performing certain
superstitious rites of divination.
A group of romping boys and girls, who were at play in one corner of the
field, were accordingly requested to exhibit to the strangers the
spectacle of a dance; and some of the most forward and lively of the
boys entered into the proposal with much glee. Two of the party took on
themselves, by general consent, the arrangement and direction of the
whole, and seemed to officiate as masters of the ceremonies, or, as they
called themselves, “Corrobory chiefs.” They were, it seems, visitors
from one of the back-settlements, and had had frequent opportunities of
witnessing the native dances. The sport partook somewhat of the nature
of a masquerade; some whimsical changes being made in the costume of the
dancers, in order to give the livelier representation of the strange
originals. Much merriment took place, and many curious feats of
grotesque agility were displayed, to the great diversion both of the
juvenile performers and the bystanders. This sport was followed by the
throwing of the spear, after the manner of the natives; an art in which
many of the Southlanders are very expert, especially those who live on
the margins of the lakes, where the striking of fish is a favourite
diversion, as the salmon-spearing is in some parts of Scotland. The
throwing of the spear at a mark, however, and also archery, are games
not confined, as dancing is, to children.
The Southlanders expressed surprise that adult Europeans, even of the
higher classes, should retain the amusement of dancing, “like the
savages;” an amusement which seemed to them, from habit, as childish as
many of their sports, on the other hand, had appeared to their visitors.
Both parties were somewhat at a loss to explain to each other the
grounds of their respective notions as to what was or was not puerile.
“There is no disputing,” said one of the most intelligent of their
hosts, “about tastes; but in many points, I believe, ours are to be
accounted for by that early and deep-seated association in our minds,
which you have in many instances noticed, between certain practices or
habits and savage life. You have remarked several times how frequently
the phrase is in our mouths, that to do so and so is ‘like the savages;’
and this may perhaps account for the ridiculous appearance which, as you
perceive, one of your balls, as you call them, would have in our eyes.”
* * * * *
The sentiment above alluded to was manifested in several conversations
(occurring at various places, and noticed from time to time in the
memorandum-books of the travellers,) on the subject of dress, especially
female dress; respecting which the ladies showed themselves, as was to
be expected, inquisitive and communicative. They generally expressed
their wonder, when the female costume of England was described, that
people pretending to be so civilized should expose so much _bare flesh_,
“like the savages.” The habit of dressing, or rather, as they said, of
undressing, so as to display naked shoulders, bosoms, and arms, struck
them more as barbarian than as indelicate; they themselves,—though their
clothing is usually thin, on account of the general warmth of the
climate,—leave no part of the body uncovered, except the face and hands.
They inquired whether the European ladies coat themselves with grease,
mixed up with ochre or other paint, as the savages do, by way of
protection to the unclothed parts from scorching sun, piercing winds,
and the bites of mosquitoes; also, whether they practised the tattooing,
which is an essential part of aboriginal finery.
They inquired also whether English ladies did not suffer in their health
from the great and sudden _changes_, from covering to exposure, of many
parts of the body between morning and evening dresses; and also whether
many of them did not become diseased or deformed by the violence with
which they appeared to squeeze their waists. Wilkins, the servant, it
seems, had chanced to bring with him a lady’s almanac, containing plates
of “female costume,” which excited great interest, wonder, and diversion
among the Southlanders. Some imagined at first, among other mistakes,
that the ladies were represented as taking precautions against drowning,
by fastening, as the Southlanders sometimes do, large bladders to their
arms.
They expressed hardly less wonder on learning that English ladies are
accustomed, “like the savages,” to wear feathers, necklaces, and other
ornaments, and even to make incisions in their flesh for the purpose of
inserting them. They asked whether, in addition to ear-rings, they wore
nose-rings, and the ornament so general among the New-Hollanders, called
humorously by the English sailors the “spritsail-yard;” viz. the
leg-bone of a bird thrust through the middle cartilage of the nose.
The travellers observed, in reply, that the Southlanders, especially the
females, seemed to have no scruples on the subject of ornamental dress
and furniture, as they had much that was both handsome and costly. “That
is true,” said one of the party; “and though there are many differences
of opinion on the subject, and some indulge in a degree of attention to
ornament which is regarded by others as excessive, the total
condemnation of all regard to decoration is by no means common. The
church, indeed, of the Kernhuters—of which I learn from you there is a
considerable and valuable remnant in Europe—have adopted, for nearly two
centuries, some very strict regulations on this head; among others, they
make it a point of discipline to use no dyes. Their shoes and boots are
brown, of the natural colour of the leather; their coats grey, being
made of a mixture of black wool and white, as it comes from the sheep;
and their hats of the natural colour of the opossum and kangaroo: but
these are exceptions. The point _agreed on_ among us, and in which our
difference from you gave rise to the wonder you heard expressed, is
this,—that it is barbarian to wear anything _for the sake_ of ornament,
and which answers no purpose but that of decoration. Of this description
are feathers, which were worn by our ancestors of both sexes, but which
I understand from you are now confined to women, and to military men
when in uniform. So, also, are necklaces, rings, and, above all,
ear-rings. It strikes us as peculiarly barbarian to bore holes in the
flesh for the purpose of sticking in ornaments. It may be a prejudice,
but it is at least an ancient one; for the Greeks, though I believe
their women wore ear-rings,—and it is to be observed that they regarded
women as a very inferior order of beings, and rather as toys, or as
domestic drudges, than as civilized and rational companions,—considered
ear-rings worn by men as a decisive mark of barbarism. You may find, in
Xenophon’s Anabasis, one of the captains of companies, who had given
some cowardly advice, reproached as uttering sentiments unworthy of a
Greek; on which some one exclaimed ‘He is no Greek! _his ears are
bored_:’ and this being ascertained by inspection, he was on this
evidence at once pronounced a barbarian, and as such reduced to the
ranks.
“You have observed,” continued he, “among us handsome and costly gold
brooches and buckles, buttons made of jewels, embroidered garments,
inlaid tables, and other such ornamental articles; but you will see no
article that is _merely_ an ornament. A gold brooch or button served as
a fastening, not better indeed, but as well, as an iron or brass one.
Its _beauty_ is superfluous, but it is not _itself_ superfluous, and
destitute of all ostensible use. So, also, a silver goblet serves to
drink out of, and an embroidered gown to cover one, no less than plain
ones. The robes, caps, and thrones of our higher magistrates are, as you
have seen, in some instances very highly decorated; but they have an
ostensible use, as coverings and seats. We have no necklaces, plumes, or
rings; and have indeed carried so far this distinction, which probably
to you seems fanciful, that we have even laid aside the ancient usage of
the wedding ring, and, as you must have observed, mark the distinction
between the married and single by the dress. By the bye,” he added, “the
ring, which you speak of as having a use in distinguishing a married
_woman_, is confined, I perceive, to the _wife_; a married _man_ not
having, as among us, any distinctive mark.”
Mr. Sibthorpe here remarked, that though any practice to which we are
not accustomed does usually appear to us fanciful, yet it occurred to
him—what had never struck him before—that no _mere_ ornament is commonly
worn by _men_ of the present age in Europe; a few, indeed, wear rings,
but not the majority; nor is it any requisition of fashion. Stars,
ribbons, crowns, &c. are worn by men as marks of certain rank or office;
but the feathers, chains, shoulder-knots, and ruffles, which our
forefathers wore as a part of fashionable dress, are obsolete. Man is
now so far conformed to the ancient definition as to be “a biped without
_feathers_;” women, on the contrary, are so far, according to the
Southlanders, in the rear of advancing civilization as still to wear
ornaments, like the savages.
He remarked also another point of coincidence between European women on
the one side, and European men and the Southlanders of both sexes on the
other; the latter, he observed, were always dressed _alike on both
sides_, so that if one imagined one of them split into halves, the two
would _match_, like a pair of gloves; among European ladies, on the
contrary, most of the many great variations of fashion agree in making
some difference between the two sides; there is usually an obliquity in
the head-gear, or a bow, a feather, or a bunch of flowers, stuck on one
side, without a corresponding one on the other.