BAB AT THE BOWSTER.

(Vol. ii., p. 517.)

Your correspondent Mac is mistaken when he says that no words are used in the Scottish dance of "Bab at the Bowster:" I have myself "babbed at the Bowster" within the last few years. Upon that occasion the words sung by the company while dancing round the individual bearing the "bowster" were—

"Wha learn'd you to dance,

You to dance, you to dance,

Wha learn'd you to dance

Bab at the bowster brawly?"

To which the "bowster-bearer" replies—

"My mither learned me to dance,

Me to dance, me to dance,

My mither learned me to dance

Bab at the bowster brawly."

After which, throwing down the "bowster" or cushion before one of the opposite sex, they both kneel upon it, and kiss one another affectionately.

I never heard any words save the above; but a friend from a neighbouring county (Dumbartonshire) informs me, that with them it is sometimes changed into

"Wha gi'ed you the keys to keep,

The keys to keep," &c.

There are also other variations which I believe I can procure, should they be desired by Mac or others. I should perhaps mention, for the benefit of Southrons, that almost all untravelled Scotchmen in conversation use the verb to learn in place of the verb to teach.

Glasgow.

The dance in Scotland called "Bab at the Bowster" is always the winding up at "kirns" and other merrymakings, and is most likely similar to the cushion-dance. The tune to which it is danced has words belonging to it. The beginning lines are—

"There's braw yill,

Down at the mill,

Bab at the bowster," &c.

L. M. M. R.