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MUSIC OF SAVAGE NATIONS. 243 |
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" Where do the swallows go to bathe ? They go to bathe in the fcrest brook. What has my loved one promised to met She has promised to chat a little with me," etc.
This questioning and answering is not confined to their music, for the Javanese are passionately fond of conundrums.* The imagery of their poems and songs is of the simplest and most natural description, fields, flowers, trees, rivers, etc., appear ad infinitum in their literature.! Their early historical legends are full of Gods in human form, of giants, and miracles; somewhat resembling in this the Hindoo allegories.
Theatrical representations, of course form a large part of both Malaysian and Polynesian popular amusements. In Java, national history is preserved not only by the ballads, but by pantomimic representations; in the latter, little puppets made of leather, wood, or paper, and sometimes masked performers, appear. The performance is accompanied by orchestral music, certain stringed instruments of which are only played by women. Some of the representations are given at night behind a white curtain, and resemble what, with us, are called, " shadow pantomimes; " these are performed mostly by females, and often last all night, breaking up, at times, as late as six in the morning.
* A conundrum from Java may be interesting to the reader Hem ii one,—
Q— What is lower than the knee, yet higher than the mountain T A.— The road which crosses the mountain. |
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t Do Backer, L'Archipel Indien, p. 183. |
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