88 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



VII 



so as not to " mar the dancers' skill." When a drum 

 is not in tune, the drummer collects some grass 

 and makes a small fire, over which he heats the hide 

 until it becomes tense enough to furnish the proper 



An Ashantoe Fetish Drum. (British Museum.) 



note. When drums are played by hand, variations are 

 produced by striking the stretched skin with the palm, 

 the finger-tips, the knuckles, or the closed fist. The 

 music and dancing usually last many hours, and in 



