Though slave owners initially allowed dances, this ended in 1688 out of fear that the slaves might plan a rebellion at such festivities. The same 1630 law also prohibited the use of drums and horns, which were feared might be used as communication to facilitate slave rebellions.
This passage describes how slave owners initially allowed dances but later banned them in 1688 due to fears that slaves might use them to plan a rebellion. The same law from 1630 prohibited the use of drums and horns, which were feared to be used for communication to incite rebellions among slaves.