One evening a party of about ten or twelve of these boys amused
themselves in dancing.- They formed themselves in a circle, in
imitation of the dance used by the men, and appeared to follow the
same rules; but, instead of the reed pipes, they substituted their,
voices. Sometimes one of them led the band, and the rest afterwards
joined in at different intervals ; and, guided only by the ear,
attuned their notes in correct harmony. The elder boys, whose
voices were of a lower pitch, sang the bass ; while the younger, produced,
in their turn, the higher tones of the treble. The sound of the
various v o ic e s , was altogether extremely pleasing; and the natural
manner in which the dancing and singing were performed, would,
simply from the engaging manners of youth, have gratified even
those who have enjoyed these arts in their more refined state. The
words Kana Kana, which convey no meaning, were pronounced by
each one in every bar, merely to assist in articulating the air. This
dance was continued, with little intermission, for nearly an hour. The
same tune was repeated during the whole time without variation ; and
occupied, in singing it once over, just twenty-two seconds: but it has
not been thought necessary to write the different parts in score,
separately as they were sung by each dancer; since they may be
readily distinguished by mere inspection. The following notes will
give some idea of them, and will also serve as a specimen of Bachapin
music.
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9:1st. During part of the forenoon, I was employed iri my waggon
in finishing my drawings; but at no hour of the day was I
allowed to be there alone. Several natives were always sitting on the
chest before me, and watching every motion; but I was mistaken in
my first supposition that their curiosity might be the effect of a desire
to learn the arts of white-men, and to improve their knowledge by
conversing with strangers. It did not appear to have so useful an
object: although I cannot but believe that the occasional visits of
Europeans, must, at least insensibly and almost involuntarily, enlarge
their notions and give them many new ideas which may ultimately
raise the nation somewhat higher in the scale of intellect and civilization.
The effects of such visits, have hitherto perhaps been
fleeting; as no strangers of this description had passed a sufficient
length of time among them, to communicate much information, or
to make any permanent impression on the minds of the people in
general.
A few days before we reached Litakun, a party of Nudkketsies
had arrived there, with a present of oxen from their chief Mokkaba,
as a testimony of his desire of being on peaceable terms with Matt! vi.
They had also brought a large quantity of iron-ware of their own
manufacture, consisting of knives, hassagays, and hatchets ; together
with tobacco, copper and iron beads, copper bracelets, and ornaments
for the ears; which were exchanged here for porcelain beads, and
sibllo. They still remained at this town, not having yet disposed of
all their merchandise. Two of them came this morning into the
public enclosure: they appeared of a blacker color than the Bachapins;
which might possibly be merely the consequence of their not being
painted with red ochre or sibllo. They had thicker lips and more
flattened noses; but I will not, from these few individuals, venture
to assert that such are the national features: yet subsequent observation
seemed to authorise the supposition that, by travelling farther
northward, the tribes would be found gradually to approach in
features and color, nearer to the negroes of the equinoctial part of
the continent.
Serrakutu, whom I had not seen for the last two days, paid