The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09

ciable and friendly Even with other peo-
pie they do not evince the low and savage
character that is often attributed to them
In such OF the useful arts as come within
their sphere Of life they are very well adj
vaneed. In certain lines they display much
skill and good judgment. Among them are
found some OF the most original ideas. car
ried into clever execution. One of the most
novel Of these Is their unique system OF
teieEraphy. This has long been known TO
exist. but Ii has always heretofore been
sealed book TO the white man. and I have
the honor of being. with one exception. so
far as can ascertain. the only white man
that has ever enjoyed a complete knowi-
edge Of their mysterious system of teleg-
raphy
Some OF the feate performed can scarcely
be exceiied by any Of the arts Of Our mod
ern civilization.
The instrument used for the purpose Is
wooden drum OF peculiar fashion. as shown
in the cuts herewith given. 1t IL made of
one solid piece of wood. and strange TO say.
Is the same in design as the drum found in
some Of the islands Of the Pacific ocean.
II is uniform in model. bu, varies In size.
Some OF them are not more than eight or
ten inches In length. while others are six
or seven feet. The following sketches Will
give a fair idea Of rs model and construc
ton. These drawings were made directly
from the drum.
No shows the instrument, in profile.
No. is the top. showing a long slot or
orifiee OF the cavity. Near the middle OF II
are two projecting lips Of wood. which
nearly meet In the center. No is cross
section showing the cavity. down the sides
Of which are two ribs or ridges OF the
wood. These ribs gradually widen and nat
ten as they descend. until they merge into
the sides of the cavity. One side of the
III
the other, yields q different tone: the oper-
ator used two plain. round sticks as shown
In No. T. The tones produced by the two
sides OF the drum are distinct, and have an
interval of about three semi-tones between
them. The operator sits with his legs
crossed In front Of the drum and uses both
hands In beating IT,
BY mea ns Of this simple device long mes
sages are sent with perfect accuracy and
marvellous speed They are delivered across
rivers lakes and jungles 10 the farthes.
corner OF the tribal domain OF the Dualas
Every important event is reported to those
whom II may concern. News and gossip
OF all kinds are freely discussed every day
among thousands OF people. The edicts
Of the king are proclaimed. councils OF
the chiefs are called and funeral sermons
are preached an the drum. In time Of
war II Is used to summon the men to
arms. 10 direct the movements OF the
warriors and 10 report the strength or tao
tics Of the enemy II warns the remote
village Of approaching danger. calls for
Aid In times OF distress and announces
the result of battle. II prociaims all
great social functions. circuiates scandal
and relates jokes, II IL a useful factor
in commerce. and is often made the me-
dunn OF important business transactions.
II Is ready and efiicter. means OF ad-
vertising. and Ia much employed for that
purpose. II supplies the place NJ a news
paper. telephone and postal service and is
a clever substitute for the art OF writing
In fact. the natives ca IL the "Duaia
Book by which the: mean ''the written
language" OF that tribe
II Is not alphabeiic phonetic or syllable
in method but purely verbal system
based upon arbitrary formulas. which are
deduceG from or made to represent the
vowel elements Of native speech Each
word Is represented by group ~ beats
very similar 10 the groups OF dots and
dashes used to represent letters In the
Morse alphabet: but In this case each
group represents a word or phrase. The
interval OF time between the strokes is