Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-10
QUEER LANGUAGES
ARTIcuLATE WRESTLING PRAcTlcED
sY THE GoMERO ISLANDERS.

The "Drum Language" Used by tAe
Natives Of the Camerooss-A West
African Travellers stors-The "Finger
Speech Of Oriental TrsderM
At the last meeting of the Berlin An
chronological society, Lieut.. Quedenfeldt,
q German officer who has lived on Gomero
island. one Of the Canary group, described
a whistling language which is used by the
inhabitants. The language does not con-
sist Of any arbitrary series OF signals or
sounds: X Is described as ordinary speech
Translated into articulate whistliBg, each
syllable having its own appropriate tone.
The Goinero uses both fingers and lips
when whistling, and Lieut.. Queden-
feidt asserts that he can carry on
a conversation with a neighbor a
mile off, who perfectly understands
all he is saying. The practice is confined
to Gomero island, and is quite unknown
In the other islands Of the archipelago.
The adoption of the whistling language is
said To be due to the peculiar geological
construction OF Gomero island. II Is
frayersed by numerous gullies and deep
rayines, running out in all directions
from the central plateau. As they are
not bridged, they can only be crossed with
great difficulty, hence man living within
a stones throw of another in a straigh,
line has often 10 go round many miles
when he wishes to see and speak TO his
neiglibor This, 1t Is eonjectured, led to
the adoption Of whistling as useful
means Of communication, which has
gradually assumed the proportions OF
true substitute for speech. IL is described
as being anything but unpleasing to the
ear.
THE DRUM LANGUAGE"
This reminds one OF the drum language
OF the natives Of the Cameroons, men
toned in BuchholZ' book on west Africa,
by means Of which the most complicated
messages can be conveyed to villages at
distance when occasions necessitate 1t.
For this purpose peculiarly shaped drum
Is employed. BY dividing the surface
into uneven halves that instrument, on
being struck, may he made to yield two
distinct notes. BY these, and shortening
and iengthening the intervals between
each note. a code is established, with q
regular sequence of taps, strokes and in
tervals capable OF expressing every sylla-
bic In the language All the natives I'M
dcrstand this code, and so highly elabor-
at,d is IL that chief can by its means
summon to his presence any villager
whom he desires to see, intimating to the
latter at the same time the purpose for
which he il required. In this way, too,
messages can be sent from village TO vii
layc over wide stretches Of countryside
drummer in one hamlet transmitting to
the next the signals he hears-and with
extraordinary rapidity.
BuchholZ had proof on one occasion OF
the utility Of this drum language and its
capabilities as u medium Of communica-
ton The negro " no had charge Of his
cano. obtained leave one morning to at
tend TO some private business Of his own,
which took him to the other side OF the
river The man remained away an I'M
reasonable time, and Buchholz got very
angry, rs he was waiting to leave the
place Another negro suggested that they
should drum for him. The drummer was
sent for and instructed to inform the miss
Ing servant that his master was very
angry with him, and that he was to re-
tuYn at once In few minutes the man
returned with the inevitable apologies for
the length of time he had been away.
He had perfectly understood the message
drumincd out to him, rs Buchholz ascer-
tanned BY inquiring of him
NAL FINGER SPEECH.
Equally curious is the so called sign
language, or finger speech, of oriental
traders, largely employed on the east
coast of Africa, in the direction OF Zanzi-
bar Walking through market place in
this region OF the world, the traveller will
often witness "A strange sight. A couple
OF grave. long bearded Arabs will step
aside each viii put his hand up the
Others capaoious sleeve, and the pair will
then beQ.u apparently to pinch each
Others fingers for II few minutes. Often
the performance will be varied. One will
unroll his long turban cloth, or perhaps
lit up his long mantle and then cover his
hard and concealed beneath this the
p'nching Of the fingers will proceed rs be
fore. The initiated know that this is a
method of bargaining by means Of a code
Of finger speech. understood by eastern
traders from southern Arabia and north
ern Africa to the borders Of Persia.
II has been adopted in the first instance
for simple reason. In the east, espe-
culiy along the coast Of the Red sea,
Taaz.lnr and southern Arabia all bust
ness /. transacted in the open air. And
in ali such transactions the bystanders,
idlcrs riff raft and meddlesome busy
bodies generally contrive to have n good
deal to say. rendering their advice to both
buyer and seller ine unwrilten etiquette
of the east requires that such friendly
counsel should not be resented. But as
the merchants and dealers find il an I'M
mit!-atei nuisance and great hindSnce
to business, they have adopted q certain
cole of finger SIGNS, which they exchange
when bargaining, with their hands con
ceaoA under their sleeves or turban cloth.