DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42067#0339
LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND DANCE.
\tfTe shall now turn to a consideration of literature, music and dance.
W It is a noticeable fact that a rich literary art is much more uni-
versally distributed than well developed decorative art. While among
tribes like the Bushman and the eastern Eskimo very few manu-
factured objects of artistic value are found, these same tribes pro-
duce an abundance of literary work. Volumes of Eskimo lore have
been collected and if it did not require a most intimate knowledge
of the people and an endless amount of patience to collect songs
and poems, their number would undoubtedly equal that of tales.
The collections of Bushman lore are also quite extended. I believe
the reason for this difference is not far to seek. Decorative art
requires rest and quiet, a stationary abode. There must be oppor-
tunity to continue steadily the work which requires the use of tools;
or at least there must be a chance to lay it aside and to take it
up again. The life of hunters is not favorable to the prosecution
of such work. First of all the weapons of the hunter must be kept
in order. The supply of provisions is generally so scanty or the
possibility of laying by stores for future use is so limited, that the
hunter is compelled to spend the greater part of every day in
pursuit of the game. Little time remains for domestic work.
Furthermore when camp is shifted which is frequently necessary,
bulky, half finished work can be carried along with difficulty only.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the household goods of the
hunter are few in number and easily transported. The property of
a Bushman family might be carried in two hands.
Quite different are conditions under which literary work and
music develop. It might be imagined that the hunter has just as
little time for poetic work, as for the manufacture of decorated
articles. This opinion is based on an erroneous conception of the
work of the hunter. He is not all the time following strenuously
\tfTe shall now turn to a consideration of literature, music and dance.
W It is a noticeable fact that a rich literary art is much more uni-
versally distributed than well developed decorative art. While among
tribes like the Bushman and the eastern Eskimo very few manu-
factured objects of artistic value are found, these same tribes pro-
duce an abundance of literary work. Volumes of Eskimo lore have
been collected and if it did not require a most intimate knowledge
of the people and an endless amount of patience to collect songs
and poems, their number would undoubtedly equal that of tales.
The collections of Bushman lore are also quite extended. I believe
the reason for this difference is not far to seek. Decorative art
requires rest and quiet, a stationary abode. There must be oppor-
tunity to continue steadily the work which requires the use of tools;
or at least there must be a chance to lay it aside and to take it
up again. The life of hunters is not favorable to the prosecution
of such work. First of all the weapons of the hunter must be kept
in order. The supply of provisions is generally so scanty or the
possibility of laying by stores for future use is so limited, that the
hunter is compelled to spend the greater part of every day in
pursuit of the game. Little time remains for domestic work.
Furthermore when camp is shifted which is frequently necessary,
bulky, half finished work can be carried along with difficulty only.
It is, therefore, not surprising that the household goods of the
hunter are few in number and easily transported. The property of
a Bushman family might be carried in two hands.
Quite different are conditions under which literary work and
music develop. It might be imagined that the hunter has just as
little time for poetic work, as for the manufacture of decorated
articles. This opinion is based on an erroneous conception of the
work of the hunter. He is not all the time following strenuously