308 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



to one we possess from Mili Point, on Vate Island, presented by 

 Mr. P. G. Black," except that ours is more ornate in carving. It 

 is evidently intended to represent a shark. 



The treatment and method of carving on Mr. Paton's drum is 

 similar to that on an oV)ject figured by Edge-Partington'- from 

 the New Hebrides, and termed by him a "fetish post, with head 

 carved and coloured red and green." 



In New Britain again, similar upright drums are used. Mr. W. 

 Powell'- says: — "There is also a larger drum, called 'garamoot,' 

 made of a trunk of a tree, hollowed out, I believe, by dropping 

 small red-hot stones continually into the inside through a small 

 slit on one side. The cylinder is struck with a long stick just 

 below this slit, and produces a deep note that can be heard for 

 an immense distance in fine weather." 



"Drums of this kind are heavy, and therefore are seldom moved 

 from the dancing-ground, which is generally an open space in front 

 of a chief's house, and is kept swept and clean by women specially 

 appointed to look after it. The 'garamoot" is also used for alarm 

 signals, in case of war, when it is struck so as to give a sharp 

 quick sound, also for calling the people together." The similarity 

 of this description to that given by the Rev. T. Watt Leggatt 

 needs no comment. 



11 Etheridge— Aust. Mus. Ann. Keport Trustees for 1897 (1898), p. 7. 



12 Edge-Partington — Loc. cit., pi. Ixxxi., f. 1. 



13 Powell— Wanderings in a Wild Country, 1883, p. 71. 



