NO. II MUSIC OF TULE INDIANS OF PANAMA DENSMORE 1 5 



The Tule, like some tribes of North American Indians, believe 

 that the appearance of a plant is, in some instances, an indication 

 of its medicinal quality. Thus the Tule chief sang concerning a vine 

 that clings tightly to a tree, asking tliat the medicine made from this 

 vine would " take hold of the disease as strongly as the vine takes 

 hold of the tree." A somewhat similar example is afforded by the 

 Tule remedy for hoarseness or cough. Water is poured over a set 

 of panpipes and the patient required to drink it in order that his 

 breathing may become as free as the current of air through the pipes. 



The uses of certain herbs are commonly known among the Tule 

 and they are prepared in a simple manner, but a doctor follows a 

 different procedure with his " hardest medicines." He sings before 

 gathering the plant in order to ensure its efficacy, and he gathers it 

 in a prescribed manner. There is no '' offering " made, corresponding 

 to the tobacco placed in the ground by the Chippewa when about to 

 gather medicinal herbs. 



When gathering bark for medicinal use the Tule doctor cuts only 

 four slices from each tree. First he cuts a small perpendicular slice 

 from the east side of the tree, about 4 feet from the ground, and 

 puts it in his basket, then he cuts similar pieces from the west, north, 

 and south sides of the tree in this order, '' talking all the time and 

 saying that the medicine must cure people." If he wants more of 

 this sort of bark he cuts it from another tree. 



The following song is given as nearly as possible in the words of 

 the interpreter, translating the dictaphone record, and the words fall 

 naturally into the rhythmic form in which they are presented. The 

 entire rendition was transcribed, comprising 292 measures. The 

 melody is typical of Tule songs, and the time was steadily maintained 

 during the prolonged tones and rests. The descending interval C-B 

 flat has been considered on page 6. In this and in subsequent tran- 

 scriptions, omitted measures are indicated by a break in the staff' or 

 by wavy lines. 



