New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
By H. E. krehbiel


Mrs, Natalie Curtis Burlin, an indie
!atigsbls and enthusiasts worker in
Tie acid of primitive folkmusic. has
presented new phase of research in a
book sntitled Songs and Tales From
lhe Dark Continent, recently published
BY G, Sehir.ss.er, New York and Boston.
The seures of the original material in
The handsomely printed book, with
coYN decorations copied from designs
drawn from African textiles, were two
young men who were for several years
students at the Hampton Institute,
wAither they had come from their ma
tive Afriea--C. Kambs Simango, Of the
Ndau tribs of Portuguese East Africa.
and hadikane Cele, Zulu from Natal.
The latter has returned to his native
land, where he is now engaged in edu-
easlsaal wefki the former, whose con-
trlbstion is much larger and also much
msss interesting than that of his COM
aanieH, Is still in this country--or
vas At least, in 1879. when, Mrs. Bur
I'D tells US. he was at Columbia Uni
Fafs!ty, but whether as q student or in
ssmf other capacity we are not told.
lac student period of both men at
hampton extended over q considerable
number OF years, during which the au-
@9r had them under observations,
Studying their languages, folktales and
songs and writing down their communi-
ca'''as to her touching on their life
histories as we'll as the traditions, Gus
'0rs, religious beliefs and practices of
'as'F peoples. Al Of these communica-
asns Mrs. Burlin has preserved with
OBVIOUS fidelity, permitting the men
'asSsslvss to speak whenever it was
H'esesbls and simplifying the infor-
NATION received from them with ma
"9s' cleaned from the writings of att
'p'ss WHO have studied African ethnol-
Wsaa art In presenting the subject
w. exhibits again that warm sympathy
sHn Ne thoughts and feelings Of prim-
ave peoples which inform her earlier
''a@ en the North American Indians
go the descendants OF the former
s'ssk slaves Of this country. There
"'naps less emotion in her presen-
''asn Of her convictions than In The
aaas Book, and In consequence her
ss'"va Is more scientific and convinc-
~ 1ough she does not always leave
~. a'sss from doubt as to the strict su-
a1e'sy Of her musical records.
sS'eoy's Souvenirs of His Ancestors
). ss's is particularly the case with
.,s s'n!siontion credited to Simango.
s a'aaush she is careful to lay a foun-
sssen for much of the material de-
IVY" ivy from him by telling US of his
,;.. ''as'ty Is child with the incanta-
sss, s psactlesd by his grandfather and
,.s NV, The we're OWNERS or witch doc
...s. !" - somethin. Of strain on our
,.. ss'''y 70 believe that after many
- o9 dassociation from his people
s, .0u,d still chant seventeen Esprit
III SRain Songs" and Dance
-! es the savagss Of Portuguese
~ africa. adding an occasional har-
i,. ~ voice to the melody and repro
ssk tue varying rhythmicsl figures
80 .seotnpaninsns Of several drums
$780,. ee'appaugs. We have no right to
s... .0a the accuracy Of what Mrs.
"a. ~ ass set down, but We can not
i, n.ivslsns At 30 retensive q mem
ails shas Of man who had practi-
~, 'evsssd all connection with his
81 ~ =. . the sss Of about aftssn years
: sasasssosth had worked a. . bell.
49, white mans hotel, az servant
= - ss@sliss Of Freedman, an ItsI-
IN ~ . Wsishmsn, spsnt six years At
~. = Shedssia and An unspecitisd
cs,.s = IN English school in Cane
ST.. before coming e the United
s.,s, .sis collaboration with Mrs.
&. s !. la'tsd three years; 50 it seems
= assume that he had been sew
~, ssea all the influences 81 his
" sos fully fifteen years when he