Of Their Music And Dances Some Account Has Incidentally Been Given
In Different Parts Of My Journal.
On the first of these heads I
have now to add a list of their musical instruments, the principal
Of which are - the koonting, a sort of guitar with three strings; the
korro, a large harp with eighteen strings; the simbing, a small harp
with seven strings; the balafou, an instrument composed of twenty
pieces of hard wood of different lengths, with the shells of gourds
hung underneath to increase the sound; the tangtang, a drum open at
the lower end; and, lastly, the tabala, a large drum, commonly used
to spread an alarm through the country. Besides these, they make
use of small flutes, bow-strings, elephants' teeth and bells; and at
all their dances and concerts clapping of hands appears to
constitute a necessary part of the chorus.
With the love of music is naturally connected a taste for poetry;
and fortunately for the poets of Africa they are in a great measure
exempted from that neglect and indigence which in more polished
countries commonly attend the votaries of the Muses. They consist
of two classes; the most numerous are the singing men, called jilli
kea, mentioned in a former part of my narrative. One or more of
these may be found in every town. They sing extempore songs in
honour of their chief men, or any other persons who are willing to
give "solid pudding for empty praise." But a nobler part of their
office is to recite the historical events of their country; hence in
war they accompany the soldiers to the field, in order, by reciting
the great actions of their ancestors, to awaken in them a spirit of
glorious emulation.
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