1875] "^^i [Gabb. 



savage Indians do not possess it. The drum is their greatest favorite. 

 It is from twenty inches to two feet long, cylindrical for half its length, 

 with a diameter ^f six or seven inches ; it then tapers convexly to near 

 the other end and then widens out a little. The pattern is always the 

 sime, and the size varies but a few inches. The larj^er end is tightly 

 covered with the skin from the belly of the iguana lizard. It is glued on 

 by fresh blood, being held in place with string until dry. A cord tied 

 around each end suspends it loosely from the left shoulder, and it is held 

 under the lefc arm, being beaten with the tips of the fingers of the ri^ht 

 hand. It is used principally to accompany and keep time to singing and 

 is an indispensable part of every feast or gathering of whatever kind. 

 To accompany the invigorating music of the drum and help the din, an 

 armadillo skin is sometimes used. This is scraped over the rings with a 

 large hard bean-like seed. It at least helps to add to the noise, if 

 it does not contribute melody. A little flute, about as musical as a penny 

 whistle, is sometimes added to the concert, though it seems rather to be 

 locked upon as a toy. These flutes are made of a bone of some bird, per- 

 haps a pelican. The bone has half-a-dozen holes drilled in it, and the 

 end is plugged with wax, so as to direct the air to the larger apertuie 

 near the end. I bought one from a Tiribi made of a deer's bone. The 

 priests use in their songs a rattle, made of a small pear-shaped tree cala- 

 bash, lashed to a bone at the small end. This contains a few seeds of the 

 " shot plant," or Canna. It is held upright and solemnly hhaketi in time 

 with the song until the end of the stanza, when, as a signal for the chorus 

 to strike in, it is given a dexterous twirl, throwing the seeds rapidly around 

 inside. On very solemn occasions a curious box is also used. It is about 

 eiyht inches long by four square on the end. It is carved out hollow, with 

 a long tongue on one face, isolated by a U-shaped slit. A he^vy handle 

 is attached to one end, also carved out of the same block. When used, it 

 is simply struck on the above-mentioned tongue with a bone or piece of 

 hard stick. This is only used on the death of a chief. There is but one 

 in the tribe, and no bribe that I could oifer sufficed to buy it- 



Fashions in dress change even among savages, at least as civilization 

 api^roaches. Formerly the dress of the men consisted only of a breech- 

 cloth. It was made of mastate, or bark cloth, about a foot wide and seven 

 or eight feet long, tapering at one end. The cloth is made by taking the 

 inner bark of either the India rubber or another tree and beating it with 

 a roughened stick over a Ing. This loosens the fibre, and renders it sofc 

 and flexible. It is then carefully washed until all the gummy matter is 

 washed out. After drying, it is rubbed a little and becomes soft and 

 smooth to the feel. To apply the breech-cloth, the wide end is held 

 against the belly, the remainder being passed between the legs ; it is then 

 wound around the waist and the iDoint tucked in ; the broad end then 

 falls over in front, for about a foot long, like an apron. When cotton 

 cloth is used, it is simply caught up in fi'ont and behind u' der a cotton 

 belt, with a similar apron in front. Sometimes, for warmth, a shirt of 



