VII 
DRUMS 
'^7 
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 bridge 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 ngoma, is an indispensable accompani¬ 
ment to all native dances ; hence this word has come to 
signify a dance. In many instances the band consists 
entirely of drums, and before dancing begins the 
drummers tune their instruments to the same pitch 
