BLOWING THE TRUMPET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

BLOWING THE TRUMPET

\ CHILD of to-day places a sea shell to the ear and is momentarily fascinated by the illusion of sounds of sea and surf that issue from the shell. The child of to-day knows that there is bound to be a simple explanation for this minor miracle and either dismisses the problem or else associates it with the amplifying apparatus of the "familiar radio. To the child mind of ancient man these sounds of the sea associated with the shell had a much deeper significance. To him this was the voice of the god of the sea—and thus the shell trumpet became the logical instrument for invoking any diety associated with the sea. Actually the phenomenon is capable of simple explanation, for the shell does Hct amplifier of those sounds around us that are too weak to be picked up by our unaided ears. Similar but lees perfect reproduction of these weak sounds may be picked up by simply arching the hand over an ear. The use of shells as trumpets is very ancient and has become almost world-wide. They were used by primitive man away back in Neolithic times, and they are stiina use by the natives of Melanesia and Polynesia.

Maori Shell Trumpets 1 he Maoris also had their shell trumpets. some being made from a local shellfish, Charonia eapax. which seldom exceeds eight inches in length, and others from the larger and finer Charonia tritonis of the tropical Pacific. This latter shell has not been found living in New Zealand wate-is, the specimens used by the Maoris having been obtained from the early whalers.

7. If yoti sent a letter to the Edifioio Britanica, Buenos Ayres, it would go to the British Embassy in (a) Chilef (b) Argentina: (c) Paraguay? S. What large volcanic island in th? North Atlantic Ocean was recently taken into protective occupancy bv Great Britain? 1). (ferman panzer divisions are frequently mentioned in war news. Explain. 10. Could a woman win the V.C? 11. June 5 is anniversary- of Ear! Kitchener's death. Year was* 1910; how did he die? 12. lo what title in other parts of the Empire doe* that of Lord Provost cf Scotland correspond? 13. Is a proa (a) an extinct \ew Zealand bird; (b) long, narrow sail canoe in Malay; (c) Hawaiian musical instrument T

ByAW.B.PowS

In fashioning these Maoris cut off the end of the spireind attached an elaborately carved wqpdeß mouthpiece, while the Jlelaneians simply bored a round hole in the-side of the shell a short distance down-fiMi the tip of the spine. Of the two m«Ujpds the latter seems to produce th» afore resonant, deeper and better carrjnig liOte. The note of the shell-trumpet cariies so well that for thousands of yeairsft has served primitive people in war, for tribal gatherings as well arfo r religious ceremonial. Even in Nprft Wales, Staffordshire, and in several southern European countries the eiell-trumpe-t is still used by herdsmeHjii driving their cattle. * .■: The Chinese used to blow shell-tcpm-pets to still the waves and ensure safe voyages, and in ancient Japan they - F* w largely used also. According te ; an early Japanese writer, one Wast from a shell-trumpet indicated a riot, two blasts a fire, three blasts robbery, and four an act of treachery. Their blowers were the. Hora-riu or HoYo-wo-fuku. Both these expressions for blowers of si>Htrumpets have become in Japan,'the common designation lor a person wh<> is fond of boasting: "Ano hito wa fiora wo-fuku"—he blows the triton's &>™> that is he. is bragging. Our expression, "He is blowing his own trumpet." 'may well have had a similar origin.

India's Prized Shells In India a different kind of shell. tbf "chank,"* is widely u.-ed as a truuiF with special reunions siguilLance. T' : , Brahmins recite a prayer to their ishuu. \\ho i- u.-ua!l v Jepi.-t;"' witi "••hank ' ?hvll in hi> hand. AM Brahmins possess one of these shell* which is held in the hand :>* the to \ ishnu is recited.

In order ,-n; ;.-v i!„. demand t"' these shells an extensive li-hivy o:i?r: - t Quantities ct" the sht\l.- are vi;t ""it 1 bangles and feeding >pn::t» Mr 1 <"<ll with the. same jiiou* obie.-t in The real prize sought after iu *'■ 'cnaiiK. Ur-hciies. li'itteivi. a : ' J - hand coiled example. These are ?' exceedingly rare, that they locoa'C t' ! prized i'omvsu.ii, of tin temples, wlie"' they are elaborately engrave.! and orna men ted with gold bands and mouth pieces. To give some idea of the rarity p! f» left-handed "c'aank 7 I may add thi" (luring the past 24 years only two ha ve been found, that is but one in ever} 4.K00.000 shells fished. Postage stamp collectors will find a eonve.ntionalised representation of the "chank ' as the central motif in t-l |e design of the stamps of the Indian native State of Travanrore.