Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ix. (19 16), No. 8. 17 



was rendered air-tight by a resinous gum from the bread- 

 fruit tree. These trumpets are also used by the herald, 

 and on board the native fleets. 



Captain Cook also speaks of the natives of Toobouai 

 Island blowing large conch-shells in a long tone without 

 any variation ; but what it portended he could not ascer- 

 tain. 68 



Hutchinson 69 gives a casual reference to the shell- 

 trumpets of the Marquesas Islands, saying that they differ 

 from that known as " Bosina " in Peru (see below). 



In Micronesia, shell-trumpets are recorded as in use 

 at Ponape (Ascension Is.), Caroline Islands, and in the 

 Marshall Archipelago. 70 Of their qse in the Pelew Islands, 

 Captain Wilson tells us that in 1783. as a preliminary to 

 an attack on a neighbouring enemy, the king, Abba 

 Thulle, ordered the conch to be sounded as a signal for 

 forming the line of battle. Captain King also refers to 

 the blowing of the conch as a signal of defiance and 

 warning in the Sandwich Islands. 71 



In the New World we have several instances of the 

 use of shells as trumpets. A species of Triton was used 

 formerly by the Indians of South America as a trumpet, 

 and a specimen was dug up at Cariete, in Peru. The 

 shell was called " Bosina," on account of the sound pro- 

 duced by blowing into it resembling the roar of a bull, 

 and it was used to announce the approach of any great 

 man into a town. It was ornamented with tassels of 

 human hair, and a leather strap of exquisite workmanship. 7 ' 2 



6S G. A. Cooke, op. cit., \., p. 65. 



69 Jonrn. Anthrop. Inst., iv., 1874, p. 13. 



70 O. Finsch, " Ethnologische Erfahrungen und Belegstiicke aus der 

 Siidsee,*' Annal. des K. K. nathist. Hofmuseums, Wien, 18S8 — 93, fide 

 Schmeltz, op. cit. 



71 G. A. Cooke, op. cit., i., pp. 30b and 353. 



72 Lovell, op. cit., p. 196, quoting Hutchinson's " Two Years in Peru,'*" 

 vol. i., p. 134. 



