Events description

Travel
Events descriptions
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Short Description
Georg Forster offers a description of the habits of the natives encountered at the Cape of Good Hope during their stay. The ability to sing, play music and dance makes the women in particular more appreciable.
Georg Forster describes the experiment conducted by his father (Johann Reinold) and Mr. Wales (the ship's astronomer) who wanted to measure the temperature of water. The two find themselves in a difficult situation as they are unable to reach the ship again until they hear the ringing of a bell that allows them to approach and then board the Adventure.
Returning to the ship, Georg Forster says that his attention and that of his companions is attracted by a group of natives located on a rocky hill. One of them lets out a scream.
Georg Forster witnesses the conversation between Captain Cook and the natives who, finally, let the crew members approach them. The onset of night forces them to leave; upon their departure, the younger of the two women begins to dance noisily.
George Forster describes one of the meetings with the natives. When they went ashore, at first they received no response. The natives were preparing to welcome them to their home.
Georg Forster describes the sounds of Cascade Cove: the noise of running water and the different types of melodies made by various species of animals (birds and creepers).
Georg Forster is surprised to see the dog who had abandoned their ship two weeks earlier in good health accompanied by the natives. The animal had survived in the woods for two weeks and had been noticed by the natives due to its howls.
George Forster tells of one of his father's excursions (Johann Reinold): he discovered a lake, going up a stream, on the hill facing the bay. Here, silence reigns and not even the singing of birds is heard.
The natives are convinced to board the ship and on the morning of April 19 the man and the younger woman appear on the shore. Georg Forster describes the ritual performed by the man before boarding.
Georg Forster describes what he heard from his father (Johann Reinhold) and from Captain Cook as they left the bay where the crew had camped for the night to stock up on supplies. As soon as the two had shot a duck, they heard screams coming from the other side of the river.
Georg Forster describes the dire conditions in which he, his father, and a crew officer find themselves at Wet Jacket Arm suddenly hit by a storm during the night. The sounds of the storm were frightening.
Georg Forster describes an encounters with a native family several times hosted on board at mealtimes. The youngest of the family tastes some liquor: in this passage, its effects are described.
Georg Forsters describes the way in which the Resolution is received by the Polynesians: "tayo" is the word used by the inhabitants to welcome travellers.
On another of his excursions, George Forster describes the sound of birds and a loud noise he discovers coming from a hut in the forest. Here he saw women making cloth from mulberry bark.
Georg Forster tells of the hospitality shown to him and to other travellers by the native people. Returning from one of their excursions, they are greeted by a native family, some of whom play and sing for them.
Georg Forster describes the first encounter with the king of Tiarraboo, O-Aheatua. Some of the travellers' gifts drew cheers of admiration from the crowd attending the meeting.
Georg Forster describes the way in which silence is maintained at their first meeting with the king: "mamoò" is translated as "be silent" and the king's attendants use strokes of a stick to ensure that the command is obeyed.
Georg Forster tells of an incident of misbehaviour by some of the crew, which arouses the king's suspicions. Captain Cook is alerted to the incident by a loud noise heard on shore.
During one of their scientific excursions, Georg Forster and his fellow get into trouble. Their guide alerts a group of locals at the bottom of the valley, who come to their aid.
Georg Forster tells of another heeva that he could witness. Its characteristics remain unchanged, but its duration is shorter than the one described on 11 September.
Georg Forster reports on the results of the excursion made by his father, Johann Reinold, and Doctor Sparrman (their assistant). Seeing the fire that has been lit, the ship responds by ringing the midnight bell.
Georg Forster describes how Tahitians spend their time reflecting on the peacefulness that characterises island life. So much so that he concludes that "they are free from cares and happy in their ignorance" (p. 112).
Georg Forster reported hearing three cannon shots. They were ignored at the time, only to discover later that they were meant to signal the start of a fight between the natives and the crew.
Georg Forster reflects on the perilous state of the traveller, exposed to the unpredictability of the sea, and describes the terrifying sound of the waves crashing against the ship.
Georg Forster describes the sound of blowing in a shell, which he heard on one of their excursions and which the natives used to tell them to get away from the volcano.
Georg Forster explains the reasons behind their excursion: they wanted to discover the place from which they heard this kind of lamentation every morning, imagining that it might be a place of worship. It is located on the eastern point of the bay as he says on page 362.
Georg Forster describes a musical encounter with the natives. They had the opportunity to sing some of their songs, to hear the natives' one and to make contact with one of their musical instruments, which was compared to a syrinx.
Georg Forster describes another musical encounter with the natives. This time they have the opportunity to hear a song from the island of Irromanga, near Tanna, because the man they have asked to sing is from there. Forster notes the difference from what he had heard that morning (see also event number 110).
Leaving the island of Tanna, Georg Forster offers some reflections on the life of its inhabitants and the natural characteristics of the island. He reiterates the supremacy of the Tanna islanders' music among the islands of the South Seas.
Georg Forster mentions that they heard the natives singing on the shore. He also makes some observations about the quality of New Zealand music, including some musical examples.
Georg Forster reports that he heard this kind of funeral dirge from the same gentleman who gave him the other musical examples in the diary. The words and the way they are intoned are reported. Forster concludes with some general observations on New Zealand music. This event is narrated by Forster in continuity with what was reported in the previous event (event number 126).
Georg Forster describes Captain Cook's ceremony of taking possession. On this occasion, several muskets were fired to the surprise of all the animals on the shore.

James Cook reports William Anderson's description of a great dance show performed by the natives. At the beginning, some men (the chorus) perform a dance singing a song and playing some instruments, then some women perform a dance singing a song together with the chorus. The show continues with different dances by men an women. In the end we have some observations by the narrator


After analyzing the voices comparatively to the western rules, Louis de Grandpré describes the traditional dance of Angola's inhabitants, accompanied by drumrolls, which consists in a dialogue between a leader and the crowd. The leader is supposed to teach the crowd the song and the dance, whilst separating the crowd into two groups (depending on the person's voice nature). In the end, the song becomes a dialogue between the crowd and the leader.
Coming from a mapou fruit, this violin is composed of three "poorly" stretched strings which produce an unpleasant sound due to the poor construction of the instrument (still a Western-centric judgment). The author also offers an analysis of the harmony created by the instrument, which sounds "wrong" and struggles to produce major thirds.
Congolese former tradition about the prince's life claims that the prince, selected by the princess, cannot see women nor be seen by them in his entire life, for he is supposed to be dedicated to the princess. Thus, each travel outside is announced by a mule bell, the "gongon".
In the Congolese culture, "Cabale" means a reunion of two parties in conflict for them to compromise. It takes place in an open area where anyone can speak. This is always accompanied by traditional songs that are answered by a specific nasal sound by the crowd.
For the vast majority of cases, the saquila is a hand salute which can differ depending of the hierarchy of the two parties. For one of the three existing saquilas which concerns two equals persons on the social scale, it consists on the extending of the arms followed by the strike of the palms, producing a big and concentrated sound.

Outside of a village, called Song, surrounding the city of Saye, Mungo Park is scared by the roaring sound of a lion and begs the inhabitants to let him inside the walls of the village

Marco Augusto Costanzi recounts the encounter with the cavalry that will accompany them to the city. In the arrangement of the personalities that make up the parade there are also fifes and drummers.
Marco Augusto Costanzi comments on the music of piva pipers and drummers being played by the military band in the city of Aleppo.
Marco Augusto Costanzi meets in Aleppo the daughter of Signor Esdra de Picciotto, whom he calls a "horrid Tuscan." Describing his daughter, he also extols her for her piano and singing talents.
Marco Augusto Constanzi describes the tone of voice in which he speaks to the Arabs he encounters in Alexandria, and he fears that they are about to argue, but instead they speak loudly because they are accustomed to doing so.
The soul of the Hebrews in Egypt at the moment it is stirred up, seems to Marco Augusto Costanzi like a torrent that heaves with its noise.
Marco Augusto Costanzi describes the cries of the jackals, very fierce animals that devour everything.
Marco Augusto Costanzi describes the movements and noises of jackals in the night in Alexandria.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells of his hearing problem that does not allow him to hear whether others are near him on the night of a journey from Alexandria to Rosetta.
Marco Augusto Costanzi describes the presence of places of union between Arab and Egyptian cultures namely the so-called "Cafenè".
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells how women are not treated well and how love songs are not dedicated to them. Egyptian men do not respect women and do not know love.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells how singing or whistling can increase the pace of loaded camels in a caravan, but he actually claims that people sing to take their minds off the boring road because the caravan leaders have whips.
Outside the monastery, Marco Augusto Costanzi talks about a bell attached to a rope must be rung to announce oneself.
Marco Augusto Costanzi reports a moment of loud-voiced dialogue in the dè Soriani monastery.
Marco Auguro Costanzi describes the music accompanying the procession of the bride on the camel through the streets of the city.
Marco Augusto Costanzi describes the dances and costumes of the dancers he met in a Cairo neighborhood, also dwelling on the music that accompanied these dances.
Marco Augusto Costanzi recounts the procession of brides in Egypt and the musical instruments that accompany it.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells about the music and the courts found after the bride was led to the bath and the hair was removed from her vulva.
Marco Augusto Costanzi writes of the music that accompanies the ceremony of circumcision of boys, a major festive event in Egypt.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells of the flooding of the Nile that occurs in the month of June or so, and tells of how public criers shout out in the streets of Cairo the heights of the water according to the Nilometer.
Marco Augusto Costanzi talks about collecting water from a well and mentions the songs of men collecting water for work.
Marco Augusto Costanzi visits the cavities of Siout (Asyut) and in some of them there are wells. Here he and companions throw stones to test through the returning sound their depth.
Also ad Siout (Asyut), Marco Augusto Constanzi, witnesses the procession of the ceremony of the circumcision of the boys and mentions the musical instruments and songs present.
Marco Augusto Costanzi talks about the Nubians and the sound of their voice, referring also to the sound of the voice of the black slave girls.
Marco Augusto Costanzi believes it is the fault of cannon noise that hippos are no longer in the waters of the Nile.
Marco Augusto Costanzi describes the costumes of thebaid females, comparing them to Mohammedan females and their metal rings.
Marco Augusto Constanzi tells how the mere bursting of rifles seemed to shake their tranquility of the crocodiles they encountered in the Nile near Thebes.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells about the presence of dancers in a Café and their trade as prostitutes.
Marco Augusto Costanzi tells of the labor of farmers and the use of a basket that seems to be useless because it loses half of the harvest.
Marco Augusto Costanzi is invited to serve as secretary to the octogenarian Tuscan-born consul in Alexandria of the Austrian, Russian, Danish, Tuscan and Sardinian nations. The consul's name is Pietro Lazzari.
Marco Augusto Costanzi is asked about music and invited to sing by Consul Pietro Lazzari. The latter is introduced by Costanzi as "orondo Schiavone, but educated in Venice, by many in Egypt and Consul General of Sweden."
Marco Augusto Costanzi sings at Consul Lazzari's house with the latter's daughter accompanying her on the piano. She is later joined by Avo on mandolin (Antonio Godard).
Marco Augusto Costanzi is still a guest of the Lazzari family and tells about another evening of talk and music.
Marco Augusto Costanzi receives an authorized leave of absence from Rossetti and leaves for Italy. In Alexandria the people and chancellors greet him with shouts and signs of thanks.


Sarah Parker-Brown recounts her first encounter with Daud Casheff's wife, noticing a low tone of voice as the latter spoke to a young girl.
Sarah Parker-Brown has caught ophthalmia and the women of Luxor scream when they see her washing her eyes with water.

Girolamo Segato recounts the welcome to Zakynthos with a lunch accompanied by dancing and a time of walking accompanied by singing and laughter.

A man dressed in a traditional manner for the ritual of circumcision is accompanied by musicians and singer in mocking the white explorers