Ambaubas or Drum - Specimen details

Ambaubas or Drum - Specimen details

Back to search results

Catalogue Number: 43679

Plant Name 153.01 URTICACEAE Cecropia peltata Entry Book Number 19.1853
Artefact Name Ambaubas or Drum Vernacular Name
Iso Country Brazil TDWG Region Brazil
Parts Held Ambaubas or Drum Geography Description Brazil
Uses Ambaubas or DrumUse: MATERIALS User: Man TDWG use MATERIALS
Storage Extra-large shelving Related Items
Donor Spruce, Richard Donor No 152
Donor Date 12/03/1853 Donor Notes
Collector Spruce, Richard Collector No
Collection Notes Collection Date
Exhibition Expedition
Number Components Publication
Notes: Label source: Used by the Indians of Sao Gabriel, Brazil in their Dabocuris or Festas. These drums are hollowed out by means of fire and the lower ends closed with fresh leaves beaten hard with a pestle. The performers in the dances beat them on the gr, ound in unison with the movements of their feet.x0Dx0Ax0Dx0ASource: Spruce, R (1851-1855) Journal entry for 17-18 April 1851. Journals from Barra to the Orinoco, from Barra to Tarapoto and notes on the uses of Amazon plants and on cryptograms, p 52. :x0Dx0AAmbuaba,, or drum, made of the trunk of Cecropia peltata; those of the men were about 3 feet long and 5 inches in diameter; the diameter of the bore being about 4 inches; those of the boys were smaller. They had been bored by means of fire, and the lowerend close, d with leaves beat down with a pestle. Two oblong holes were cut near each other adjacent to upper end at tube, by which it was held, the thumb being inserted into one hole and the fingers into the other. The lower end for the breadth of a few inches wa, s painted black and about the space of a foot near middle was painted with fantastic devices to taste of fabricator. At length they appeared in a file, beating the ground with their drums and formed themselves in a ring still drumming away.x0Dx0Ax0Dx0APhotograph, ed and catalogued in November 2016 as part of the Musical Instrument Interface for Museums and Collections (MINIM-UK) project, Royal College of Music, www.minim-uk.orgx0Dx0A

Simple search   |   Amend search