652 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



difference in outline, as will be seen by referring to tlie sketch. Carl 

 Engel mentions instruments of pottery somewhat like those just de- 

 scribed, but of larger dimensions. Speaking of these,^ he says: 



The botuto, which Gumilla saw used by some tribes near the Orinoco (of which we 

 engrave two examples) was evidently an ancient Indian contrivance, but appears to 

 have fallen almost into oblivion during the last two centuries. It was made of 

 bated clay and was commonly from 3 to 4 feet long; but some trumpets of this kind 

 were of enormous size. The botuto with two bellies was usually made thicker than 

 that with three bellies and omitted a deeper sound, which is described as having 

 been really terrific. These trumpets were used on occasions of mourning and funeral 

 dances. Alexander von Humboldt saw the botuto among some Indian tribes near 

 the River Orinoco. 



The small instruments just described may be a survival of the ancient 

 botuto. 



BRAZIL,. 



Bone whistles or flageolets. — According to Ewbank, the aboriginal 

 Brazilians had instruments of bone made on the same principle as the 

 bone whistles from the Pacific coast, heretofore described. Fig. 312 is 



s 



n 



Fig. 312. 

 BONE FLUTES. 



Brazil. 



Thomas Kwb.ink, Life in Rr:iiil, p. 151. 



a reproduction of his drawings of a number in the museum at Rio 

 Janeiro. The following descri])tions are interesting as showing their 

 similarity to the California instruments: 



Double flutes were extensively used by the classical ancients, and here they are 

 as constructed by American aborigines. Tlie bones of which they are made are yel- 



' Musical Instruments in the South Kensington Museum, pp. 74, 75. 



