24 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. J/ 



Protecting those who will play the flute and rattle on your wedding day. 



Now they will make the new flutes. 



The assistant musician cut the canes beside a mountain stream 



And sang, so that the flute would make sweet music for your wedding. 



He stands beside the chief musician and each holds an unfinished flute, 



Two men go toward them, trotting across the room, 



In their hands they carry hot irons with sharp points. 



Now they are burning finger holes in the new flutes, 



Twice they go forward and touch the canes with their hot irons, 



Then the finger holes are shaped with a sharp knife. 



See them blow straight through the flutes without touching the finger holes. 



Then each takes a gourd rattle and shakes it. 



The chief musician plays the first tune at your wedding, 



Afterward the helper plays with him and all the young men may join the music, 



Playing the flutes they have made for your wedding. 



Watch the chief musician and his helper. 



Suddenly they turn, facing in opposite directions. 



Then stand side by side again 



And bend over so that the flutes almost touch the ground. 



Now the men and women stand in a circle, the musicians in the middle, 



They dance sideways, facing inward. 



Suddenly the leader gives a signal and they face outward. 



Moving sideways in a circle as before. 



Sometimes they move in a line, each with hands on the hips or shoulders of 



the person in front. 

 All the people wear their prettiest clothes 

 When they dance at your wedding. 



The sun has passed the half of the sky, 



'Tis time for the feast in the little wedding house where we are assembled. 



Bring the fish and game, the cakes and cocoanuts. 



Bring the flat baskets heaped with fruit. 



See ! The chee-sa will be oft"ered first to the chief musician. 



He will drink a large cup for the boy, then a little cup for the little Ijridc, 



Now the man appointed is standing with the cup of chee-sa. 



He holds it up and says, " Watch, O musician, I am going to bring you chee-sa." 



Then he crosses the room and hands the cup to the musician. 



See ! He holds it up and says, " Watch me. I am going to drink the chee-sa." 



Happy are the boy and girl when the chief musician drinks to them. 



Chee-sa is served to all the guests by men appointed for this work. 



In the late afternoon we bathe in the ocean, 



Bathe as the water is red and gold with sunset, 



Then with fresh clothing we go to the dance. 



It is evening and the guests are in the big wedding house. 

 Blazing torches made of nuts are along the walls, 

 And bright lights made of cloth dipped in honey. 

 While from the roof are hanging lanterns brought from Panama. 

 The men are on one side of the room and the women on the other. 

 I escort the chief musician into the house of music, 



I take him by the arm as though he did not know the way, and seat him in 

 his place. 



