VII 



DRUMS 



87 



of wood is left as a handle : the opposite end is covered 

 with, hide which is drawn into a cone by means of a 

 piece of stout brass wire passing upwards through 

 the hollow of the drum : near the handle this piece of 

 wire is strained over a l)ridge of wood like a violin 

 string and made taut on the outside, near the handle. 

 In order to play the drum, it is held by the handle 



A Sesse Guitar. 

 It is covered with python's skin. 



and the lower end is gently tapped upon the floor : 

 an agreeable soft drumming noise is thus produced. 



The drum, or ugoma, is an indispensable accompani- 

 ment to all native dances ; hence this word has come to 

 sio-nify a dance. In many instances the band consists 

 entirely of drums, and before dancing begins the 

 drummers tune their instruments to the same pitch 



