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to be accurately indicated by means of our musical notation. 
Some additional explanation is therefore required with the 
notation. In writing down the popular tunes of foreign 
countries on hearing them sung or played by the natives, no 
attempt should be made to rectify anything which may appear 
incorrect to the European ear. The more faithfully the 
apparent defects are preserved, the more valuable is the 
notation. Collections of popular tunes (with the words of the 
airs) are very desirable. Likewise drawings of musical 
instruments, with explanations respecting the construction, 
dimensions, capabilities, and employment of the instruments 
represented. 
Vocal Music .—1. Are the people fond of music ? 2. Is 
their ear acute for discerning small musical intervals? 3. 
Can they easily hit a tone which is sung or played to them ? 
4. Is their voice flexible ? 5. What is the quality of the 
voice ? is it loud or soft, clear or rough, steady or tremulous ? 
6. What is the usual compass of the voice ? 7. Which is 
the prevailing male voice—tenor, baritone, or bass ? 8. 
Which is the prevailing female voice—soprano or alto ? 9. Do 
the people generally sing without instrumental accompani¬ 
ment ? 10. Have they songs performed in chorus by men only, 
or by women only, or by both sexes together ? 11. When the 
people sing together, do they sing in unison or in harmony, 
or with the occasional introduction of some drone accompani¬ 
ment of the voice ? 12. Is their singing in regular time, or 
does it partake of the character of the recitative ? 13. Have 
they songs for solo and chorus, or with an air for a single voice 
and a burden (or refrain) for a number of voices ? 14. 
Describe the different kinds of songs which they have (such 
as sacred songs, war songs, love songs, nursery songs, &c.) 
with remarks on the poetry. 
Instruments. —Describe, with drawings, the construction 
of all instruments ; the most minute details may be of 
value. 15. What are their instruments of percussion (such 
as drums, castanets, rattles, cymbals, gongs, bells, &c.) ? 
16. Have they instruments of percussion containing sonorous 
slabs of wood, glass, stone, metal, &c., upon which tunes can 
