NO. II MUSIC OF TULE INDIANS OF PANAMA DENSMORE 25 



The young boys play their flutes as we come in, 



Everyone claps their hands as I escort the chief musician at my daughter's 



wedding. 

 In a similar manner my wife escorts our daughter into the house of music, 

 And with them comes the woman who will cut her hair. 

 • All night the young people may dance if they like. 

 The managers of the feast, both men and women, will remain in the house. 

 While across the water move the canoes of those who wish to go home and 



sleep. 



Early in the morning begins the cutting of the bride's hair — 



So early that the sky is scarcely red in the east. 



The haircutter may know many songs to sing, or she may encourage others to 



sing as she works. 

 The little bride is seated between her mother and her grandmother, 

 Behind her stands the haircutter with sharp scissors, 

 In front of her sits the assistant haircutter. 

 Chee-sa is brought. Four times the assistant hands a tiny cup of it to the 



haircutter ; 

 Then four times the haircutter hands a tinj' cup of it to her assistant. 

 All around are the young girls and women singing pretty songs to the bride. 

 They sing, " Your husband will be kind to you " ; and " You will have a nice 



home." 

 They dance alone or in little groups, clapping their hands as they sing. 

 Now the haircutter parts the girl's hair from her forehead to the back of her 



neck. 

 Then parts it across the top of her head from ear to ear. 

 Slowh^ she snips a few hairs at a time until all is made short, 

 The cutting of the hair will take until noon. 

 With the young girls dancing, clapping their hands and singing about the kind 



husband and the happy home. 

 The girl will take the packet of hair to her new house. 

 She will tie it up close to the rafters. 

 Sometimes she will look up and see it there. 

 When she has lived a long time in that house. 



The hair cutting is finished and a bright kerchief is tied on the girl's head. 

 She puts on her prettiest dress, reddens her cheeks and paints a red line down 



her nose, 

 Strings of silver money, glass beads and gold beads are around her neck. 

 See her earrings, anklets, and bracelets. 

 Now she dances a little with the assistant musician. 

 The haircutter also dances a little with the assistant musician. 

 And all is ready for the second feast. 



Bring the coffee ! Bring the deer meat, fish, and wild turkey, 



Bring the cakes her mother made of cocoanut, corn, and honey. 



There are dishes for all, and the choicest food for the special guests. 



Great kettles of soup are ready for those who came because they heard there 



was to be a wedding. 

 The people from distant islands and the young men who boast they never have 



missed a wedding, 



