296 



G. A. T. VAN DER BANDE. 



however, so tiring that it can only be kept up for a short time and the performers are even 

 then co.vered wjth perspiration. Indeed, I hâve seldom seen a maie Papuan exerting him- 

 self more thari in producing this sacred music. Horst [1S93, 149] créâtes a wrong impression 

 when lie writes that the loins are constantly kept in motion, as with the coitus [1889, 243], 

 and that they get into such a state of excitement, that the perspiration breaks out. Not the 

 excitement, but the bodily exertion (see page 307) causes the perspiration. Figs. 191 and 192 

 show the performance of a couple of men of Kaptiau ; fig. 191 is the position at the begin- 

 ning, and fig. 192 that when, to increase the abdominal pressure, the body is more bent. 



The use of the flûtes with side openings demands less strength and can be done, 



as in the case of the blowing 

 on the water flûtes of Tumleo 

 (Erdweg [1902, 295]), by the 

 novices. In this case, according 

 to BlNK [1897, 174], no walking 

 takes place, but I hâve never 

 seen it done myself. Low tones 

 from twô very thick flûtes, we 

 heard on an evening before 

 the departure of the visitors 

 from Sékâ. 



I am convinced, that the 

 sacredness of the flûtes does 

 not originate in the adoration of 

 bamboo, although that, in itself, 

 is not improbable since it has 

 become known that the Tugeri 

 hold a kind of bamboo sacred, 

 which may not be used in 

 ordinary circumstances. I hère 

 rëcall an occurrence which hap- 

 pened in the temple of Nâcheibe. Wishing to buy a sacred flûte, I offered for it an ebonite 

 holder of a clinical thermometer and demonstrated to the men how on this also a high tone 

 could be produced. This sound, however, created great alarm amongst the men squatted 

 round, and with frightened gesticulations I was told not to do this again, because the 

 sound was not allowed to be heard by the women, or at ail events not at that hour (it was 

 6 o'clock in the morning) ; — the exchange, however, was effected. It therefore appeared hère 

 that the sound of the flûtes gives to thèse objects their meaning; this sound often imi- 

 tâtes the singing of birds, after which, in the case of some spécimens, the flûtes were named, 

 as far as could be judged with a faulty knowledge of the language, and it may therefore 

 be imagined that thèse birds play a certain part in the religious ideas of thèse Papuans. 



It can only be surmised for the présent, with what object the flûtes are played. — 

 When the Netherlands flag of Van DER GOES [185S, 100] was displayed, it was neces- 

 sary first to blow four times on the flûtes; on account of this D. W. HORST [1893, 127] 



192. Playirig bamboo flûtes; Nimbûran. 



