84 
EASTERN ETHIOPIA 
VII I 
of wood with a piece of ox-hide stretched over its ends. | 
These two pieces of hide are connected by cords niade| 
from banana fibre, which serve to keep them tense, f 
The disposition of the cords produces a decorative | 
effect enhanced by staining. Some of the drums are| 
of enormous size. I have seen one a yard and a half j 
I 
The Uganda drum consists of a hollow, truncated 
cone of wood with a piece of ox-hide stretched ». 
over each end. The pieces of hide are con- » 1 
nected by cords made from banana fibre which W 
keep them tense. The cords are sometimes ■¥ 
stained to produce a decorative effect, 
I 
high and nearly a yard in width at the broad end. 
The conical-shaped drum stands on its narrow end and 
is beaden on the broad end. Large war drums are held 4 
extremely sacred, and the loss of one is as much taken ’ 
to heart by an African Sultan as the loss of a flag by' < 
ourselves. ■ i 
