South American Flutes
a larger hole near one end, which latter is held just underneath the left nostril. The other nostril being closed by a peculiar movement of the muscles of the nose, the breath is forced into the tube and produces a soft dulcet sound." Sometimes the right nostril of the player is closed by the thumb of the right hand whilst its fingers stop the finger-holes. They are often adorned with lines and figures scorched on the surface, and sometimes with human hair. Pierre Loti in his Le Mariage de Loti mentions the Vivo as used in Tahiti. The nose-flute is also to be found in Northern Australia and New Zealand, whither it was brought probably by Malay traders. The Malays are so fond of the sound of the flute that they bore holes in bamboos growing on the river-bank in order that the wind may play tunes upon them!
The Mexicans and Peruvians have always been great flute-players, and many specimens of their early pipes
South
American
Flutesand flutes are still preserved in the Mexican museums. Some of these are made of pottery and others of human bones—a fact which recalls the story of the Maori chief who, when complimented by Bishop Selwyn on the tone of his flute, replied that he was very happy when playing it because it was made out of the shin-bone of a rival chief whom he had killed and eaten! Alonzo de Ovalle (c. 1650) tells us that such flutes are quite usual among some native tribes in Guiana and Chili, the accompanying drums being made out of the skins of the vanquished, to which music the warriors danced.
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