Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/182

 to play; some on two joints of small bamboo, with two holes at one end, two in the middle, and one at the  other end. To this latter the left nostril was applied. Others had four or five joints of large bamboo, opened at each end, which they beat upon with a small stick. Some beat two sticks together, and some clapped their hands to make a sharp sound, while others gave a sort  of grunt down in their throats, which produced a sound  similar to that of a weak-toned bass drum. Occasionally the musicians would sing a monotonous song on one note, the bass alternating with the melody. The whole produced discordant sounds, which could hardly be  called music, and I fear would fail to be appreciated by  a Boston audience. They kept excellent time, however.

While the musicians were playing, the major drummer made his appearance from behind the huge rock. He was completely covered with green and dried leaves. Vines and creepers were bound about him in every way. On his head he wore a mask resembling a boar’s head, painted red on one side and black on the other. His baton was a huge war-club. He would turn around at times and "present arms" with it; then toss it up in the  air end over end, and catch it as it came down. His movements were quite similar to those of our major  drummers. He was greatly applauded by the spectators.

He was followed by a procession of natives, all dressed in gala attire, wearing white salas and new masi. The chiefs had wreaths of natural flowers and vines twined  around their turbans, which gave a pretty effect. Their faces were painted in various styles, some wholly vermilion, some half vermilion, the other half black, with