NO. II MUSIC OF TULE INDIANS OF PANAMA DENSMORE II 



forms a handle. The Title instruments in the Marsh Collection differ 

 from those of the North American Indians in that the gourd is 

 fastened to the handle by a cord that passes through it. 



The rattle used in connection with the flute is not large and contains 

 rather heavy pebbles. The rattles used by the women are of two 

 sorts, each being different from the rattle used with the flute. A 

 woman's dance rattle contains many small pebbles and the handle 

 passes entirely through the gourd. Sometimes the gourd is large and 

 decorated with scrolls etched on its surface. The second type of 

 rattle used by the women is about the same size as a man's rattle 

 and contains many small pebbles and one rather large pebble. This 

 is shaken " to put the babies to sleep," affording the only instance 

 known to the writer in which instrumental music is used for this 

 purpose. When the rattle is shaken the first resultant sound is that 

 of the small pebbles, this is followed by the rolling of the larger 

 stone which continues steadily and rather slowly, and has a pecu- 

 liarly soothing effect. 



The bone wliistlea are made of the wing bones of the pelican and 

 " king buzzard." They have four fingerholes and are decorated with 

 lines burned with a hot iron. 



The conch horn (pi. 3) is made by piercing a mouthhole in the 

 tip of the shell. The only variety of conch used in this manner is 

 the Casis cameo ' Stem. A specimen of this variety shown them 

 through the courtesy of Dr. Paul Bartsch, Curator of Mollusks, 

 United States National Museum, was identified by the Tule as the 

 type used by them. This instrument with its far-reaching tone ap- 

 pears to be used only as a signal. An informant said, " If a man has 

 gone to another village and been away a long time he may blow this 

 horn as he returns, to let his people know that he is coming." 



TREATMENT OF THE SICK 



The work of a Tule doctor is twofold as he ministers to both the 

 bodies and minds of the people. He treats the sick by administering 

 remedies and by such simple therapeutic measures as quiet and par- 

 tial abstinence from food or drink, singing as he prepares and ad- 

 ministers his most important remedies. In addition to this he teaches 

 the young people, " beginning especially with the boys when they are 

 very young. He exhorts them to right living, telling them not to 

 quarrel, steal, nor tell lies." The Tule say that they have never been 

 at war, and quarrelling among individuals seen^ particularly ab- 

 horrent to them. The doctor, chief and certain civic officials are 



