NO. II 



MUSIC OF TULE INDIANS OF PANAMA DENSMORE 



31 



The sound of the ropes whisthng in the wind is Hke the sound of many 



birds, 

 The blocks tick together Hke the ticking of a watch. 

 On the shore the girls are watching. They jump and wave their hands, 



excited to see who will win. 

 The wind blows harder and harder. The boat heels over so the keel can 



be seen. 

 The bowsprit shakes and trembles, and the water barrels go overboard. 

 Now the boat is filling with water. 



The captain is a negro with thick lips and a wide hat, and his hat flaps. 

 He says, " Cut down the mast. The wind comes harder every minute." 

 The owner of the boat sits down in the cabin. 

 He reads in a prophecy-paper that the boat will be lost. 

 Now the wind has died down. 

 The owner says, " That was why I did not want the sails taken down. 



I knew there would be a calm." 

 Then the wind comes gently and they go home. 

 It was early morning when they started and now it is noon. 

 The captain who won the race steps ashore and sees a pretty girl. 

 He says, " You were a little girl the first time I saw you. Now I want 



to marry you." 

 All the sailors shake hands with the captain and the girl. 

 Now she will not speak to the boys any more. 

 There is a party and everyone drinks chee-sa, 

 Everyone dances at the wedding of the captain and the girl. 



= 80 



NO. 7. SEEN THROUGH A SPYGLASS 



:§?fe¥#=^^^ 



_- ^M--^- 



^z 



i=it 



±^. 



A conversation between a boy and two girls is recounted in this 

 song. The name of the boy is NigaHli, the older girl is Sianili and 

 the younger is Wagayokili ; the boy and older girl are " doctors " 

 (possessors of mysterious power). They are sitting in a house and 

 looking toward the sea through a spyglass. It was said the Tule had 

 seen spyglasses but did not own one. The principal characteristic 

 of the melody is the downward sequence of three or four consecutive 

 tones. 



