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Chapter Twenty-three. The Spring Festival |
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men dressing for the dance |
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You might well imagine that the youths of the village would be here, forming an enthusiastic audience round the dance platform, but there is as yet no sign of them. The boys are far too busy dressing up themselves. They are sitting in front of the men's house combing out each other's long hair and arranging the white hornbill feathers in the bushy crests of red goat's hair on their hats. This morning they searched the forest for the choicest of ear ornaments -- gold and mauve orchids -- only the most beautiful are fitting for the Spring Festival. |