NO. 2 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I924 



117 



ing the prolonged tones of the wedding music which occurred at 

 regular intervals. 



In this, as in all Indian tribes, it was impossible to obtain a verbal 

 description of the music. It was necessary to record songs, study 

 the records, and question the people concerning them. The first song 

 recorded was about seven minutes in duration. When it was finished 

 the chief was asked to explain the words. These words were highly 

 poetic and contained an entire narrative, working up to a climax and 



Fig. 123. — James Perry blowing conch shell trumpet. 



ending in a conclusive manner. The song related that a group of 

 young girls walked among the bright flowers, a young man appeared, 

 and later was shot by a jealous rival. Another song was requested 

 and the chief sang of a race between several canoes (dugouts) 

 equipped with sails. In this song a storm arose, followed by a calm 

 and a favoring breeze, the song ending with the wedding of the 

 captain who won the race, while the sailors danced at the wedding. 

 From these examples it was evident that the words of Tule songs 

 afiforded as much pleasure as the melody. 



