236 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. flutes or reeds; and the only two mufical inftruments 
which we obferved, were of an exceedingly rude kind. One 
of them does not produce a melody exceeding that of a 
child’s rattle. It conlhls of what may be called a conic cap 
inverted, hut fcarcely hollowed at the bafe above a foot 
high, made of a coarfe, fedge-like plant; the upper part of 
which, and the edges, are ornamented with beautiful red 
feathers ; and to the point, or lower part, is fixed a gourd- 
Ihell, larger than the fift. Into this is put fomething to 
rattle ; which is done by holding the inftrument by the 
fmall part, and fhaking, or rather moving it, from place to 
place brifkly, either to different fides, or backward and for- 
ward, juft before the face, ftriking the breaft with the other 
hand at the fame time *. The other mufical inftrument (if 
either of them deferve that name) was a hollow veflel of 
wood, like a platter, combined with the ufe of two flicks, 
on which one of our gentlemen faw a man performing. 
He held one of the flicks, about two feet long, as we do a 
fiddle, with one hand, and ftruck it with the other, which 
was fmaller, and refembled a drum-flick, in a quicker or 
flower meafure; at the fame time heating with his foot 
upon the hollow veflel, that lay inverted upon the ground, 
and thus producing a tune, that was by no means difagree- 
able. This mufic was accompanied by the vocal perform¬ 
ance of fome women, whofe fong had a pleafing and tender 
effect. 
We obferved great numbers of fmall polifhed rods, about 
four or five feet long, fomewhat thicker than the rammer 
of a mufquet, with a tuft of long, white dog’s hair fixed on 
the fmall end. Thefe are, probably, ufed in their diver- 
fions. We faw a perfon take one of them in his hand, and, 
* See Plate, N° LXVIL Fig. 3. 
holding 
