DEAR KREHBIEL,--I hope you may prove right and I wrong in my judgement of ----. As you say, I have a peculiar and unfortunate disposition; nevertheless I had better reasons for my suggestions to you than it is now necessary to specify.
Your syrinx discoveries seem to me of very uncommon importance. What is now important to learn is this: Is the syrinx an original instrument in those regions whence the American and West Indian slave-elements were drawn?--an account of which slave-sources is to be found in Edwards's "History of the West Indies." The Congo dances with their music are certainly importations from the West Coast--the Ivory Coast. Have you seen Livingstone's account of the multiple pipe (_chalumeau_, Hartmann calls it in French) among the Batokas? I would like to know if it is a syrinx. We have no big public libraries here; but if you have time to make some West African researches, one could perhaps trace out the whole history of the syrinx's musical migration. I send you the latest information I have been able to pick up. Just so soon as I can get the material ready, will send also information regarding the various West Indian dances in brief--also the negro-Creole bottle-dance, danced over an upright bottle to the chant--
"Ça ma coupé,-- Ça ma coupé,-- Ça ma coupé,-- Ça!
Ça ma coupé,-- Ça ma coupé,-- Ça ma coupé,-- Ça!"
I've reopened the envelope to tell you something I forgot--a suggestion.
I was quite pleased to hear you like my Chinese paragraph; and I have a little proposition. Do you know that a most delightful book was recently published in France, consisting wholly of odd impressions about strange books and strange people exchanged between friends by mail. Each impression should be very brief. Why couldn't we do this: Once every month I'll write you the queerest and most outlandish fancy I can get up--based upon fact, of course--not more than two hundred words; and you write me the most awful thing that has struck you in relation to new musical discoveries. In a year's time we would have twenty-four little pieces between us, which would certainly be original enough to elaborate into more artistic form; and we could plot together how to outrage the public by printing them. I would contribute $100 or so--if we couldn't find an enthusiastic printer. The book would be very small.