Events description

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The Maḥmil (colloquially pronounced maḥmal) is an empty litter, with a pyramidal top covered with embroidered brocade and decorated with ornaments of gold or silver and jewels, which was sent annually from Cairo, to accompany the pilgrim caravan to Mecca and back. Similar Maḥmils have been sent from other countries at various times, but that from Egypt has always held the place of honour. The procession here described was the first of three annual processions of the Maḥmil, about the middle of Rajab, afterwards held a month later, and discontinued after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. The main ceremony, still observed, was in the month of Shawwāl, on the departure of the pilgrim caravan.
The drum-band plays before the residence of Tripoli's amīrs. According to Gibb (Vol. I, p. 89, n. 80) "A considerable proportion of the 'forty amīrs' mentioned above must, however, have been below the rank entitled to this distinction."
The locals call this hill "Hill of Drums" and assert that they hear a sound like drums on the eve of every Friday (the day of the Islamic congregational prayer).
Drums beaten in front of the houses of the two amīrs of Mecca, every day at the hour of the sunset prayer.
Meccans' practice in regard to the Khutba and the Friday service including a signal made with the "farqaʿa", a rod with a thin twisted leather cord at the end; ritual blows on the pulpit's steps with a sword and the call to prayer.
Meccans' practices at the beginning of the months, including the call to prayer and reciting aloud poems of praise to the rulers.
Meccans' practice in the month of Rajab, which is dedicated to the Lesser Pilgrimage, the ʿumra.
During the lesser pilgrimage in the month of Rajab, the traditional invocation "labbayka", meaning "Here I am to You" is shouted by the pilgrims.
The Meccans' practices in the month of Ramadan include coordinated calls to prayer from the minarets, public recitation of the Qurʾān, the use of farqaʿa and other sounds.
Theʿirāqī sharīf Abū Ghurra is reported here to have caused incidents because of his love for drums and the freer use of them made in al-ʿIrāq and other countries compared to India.
The author witnesses ritual chants and dances of the Rifāʿiyya Sufi Order including some fakir acts with fire.
The author witnesses the fire dances of dervishes from the Ḥaydariyya Sufi Order, who according to some sources consumed cannabis in their rituals. Cannabis was even called "The wine of Ḥaydar" (see Ḥaydariyya, EI-3 online).
Tustar's Shaykh Noon Prayer customs, including qur'anic readers' recitation/cantillation. The art of qur'anic recitation is called tajwīd and entails phonetic and semantic rules (see Tadjwīd, EI-2).
While travelling through Iran, the author is astonished to see people singing merry songs at a funeral.
Account of some of the sanctuaries at Shīrāz, including qurʾānic cantillation, drums, straight and coiled trumpets sounded.
A ritual calling upon the shīite "Expected Imam" al-ʿAskarī performed with musical instruments every evening. Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī (844/847-873) is the eleventh Imām of the Twelver Shīʿa. At his death, some held that he was al-Qāʾim and would return; others regarded his childless death as proof of their error in supporting his Imāmate and turned to his brother Jaʿfar (see Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī, EI-2) .
The king and his wazīr on a boat on whose sides stood two other boats carrying musicians. According to d'Ohsson, under the early Khāns of the Īlkhānid dynasty, a royal prince was allowed kettledrums and a drum, whilst a wazīr had a kettledrum. The commander-in-chief was given drums, and an amīr of 10,000 (?) men, as well as tributary princes were allowed a [kettle] drum (see Ṭabl-Khāna, EI-2).
The author joins the Tatar King of Iraq's court while departing from Baghdad and recounts the Tatars' travel customs, which include musical performances. Tatar was a general term used to refer to Mongols. A "monster kettledrum" is mentioned, "known to the Mug̲h̲als as the kūrgā (ii, 126 tr. Gibb, ii, 342-3). The kūrgā was the personal musical emblem of the Il-Ḵh̲ān and at his death it was destroyed" (see Ṭabl-K̲h̲āna, EI-2).
Sultan of Delhi's customs when leaving for the hunt, including musical executions. Al-ʿUmarī (d. 1349) reports detailed descriptions of Muḥammad Ibn Tughluq hunting accompanied by a "small contingent" (Siddiqi et al., eds., 1971, pp. 44-45).
The author witnesses Friday audiences of the Sultan of Mogadishu (called here the Shaykh). After the congregational prayer at the mosque, the Sultan carries out a ritual towards the audience hall among performing musicians. While they play no person moves or stirs from his place, and anyone who is walking stands still, moving neither backwards nor forwards.
The Zafar's sultan has musical instruments sounded in front of his audience-hall every day.
Customs of the Akhiyya Brotherhood, including music and dancing. This kind of brotherhood is considered as part of the broader phenomenon of the "futuwwa". The sense of fraternity existed between the fityān of each town and others elsewhere by whom they were received when travelling, like the old “companions” in Europe (see Futuwwa, EI-2).
Qur'anic cantillation of the suras of Victory, Sovereignty and ʿAmma (al-Nabāʾ) for Akrīdūr's Sultan at the mosque.
Lamentations are made on the Sultan's dead son. The author praises the sobriety of the lamentations on the Sultan's dead son compared to what is done in Egypt and Syria.
The author and his fellow travellers are hosted by a local fitiyān brotherhood, whose members entertain them with Qur'anic cantillation (see Tadjwīd, EI-2), music and dances.
The author joins the ʿĀšūrāʾ's celebration at a prominent zāwiya. The ʿĀšūrāʾ is a supererogatory fasting practised in the tenth day of Muḥarram, the first month in the Islamic calendar (see ʿĀshūrāʾ, EI-2).
Muslim travellers frightened by churches' bells, rush to recite the Islamic call for prayer. Muslims of the time held the ringing of bells in the greatest abhorrence, and a Prophetic Tradition says: "The angels will not enter any house in which bells are rung." (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2113).
Musical performance during the Sultan's meal, with qurʾānic cantillation and songs in Arabic, Persian and Turkish.
Qur'ānic cantillation and prayers called "tarāwīḥ" traditionally performed during Ramaḍān are performed by the author and his fellow travellers. The recitation of the Qurʾān has a prominent place in these ṣalāts. Certain groups abide behind their imāms reciting the Qurʾān once or several times in the nights of Ramaḍān (see Tarāwīḥ, EI-2).
The ritual the sultan, the amīrs and the royal house perform when consuming alcohol, accompanied by singing.
Hospitality at a zāwiya in Bukhārā where qurʿānic cantillation and singing are performed. Zāwiya is a common name used throughout the entire Islamic world to refer to places where Sufis gather.
Description of the Barīd (Postal service) in which instruments with rattles are used. According to Silverstein (2007:163-164), Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's account of the Barīd echoes Marco Polo's description of the Yām, the Mongol postal service that was an important aspect of Mongols' legacy in the Islamic world.
The author travels with a jurist on the river Sind and describes how musicians were always present during a journey and often performed to accompany different moments.
The author witnesses the ritual called "Sati" in which widows burn themselves along with their deceased husbands. Pieces of music are performed during the ritual. This passage by Ibn Baṭṭūṭa is regarded in the literature as one of the main sources for this ritual in pre-modern times, no descriptions are known that provide firther details.
The Delhi Sultan had a bell placed at his palace's gate for the victims of oppression to call upon him at night. The anecdote refers to events that would have happened about one hundred years before the author came to Delhi.
The prince attempts a revolt against his father, but the maliks have the drums beaten to threaten him.
At the Sultan's Gates in Delhi, guests are announced by voice and playing musical instruments. The author's account presents a few discrepancies with al-ʿUmarī's. According to the latter, were there seven gates (Siddiqi et al., 1971, p.55).
The Sultan exits the palace on the occasion of the Feast riding an elephant, between pageantry and musical performances. The sultan and each amīr is told to be going out with his own his "marātib" [lit. ranks, degrees], i.e. flags, drums [ṭubūl], coiled trumpets [abwāq], straight trumpets [anfār], and zurnas [ṣurnāyāt].
The author reports the King's customs on the days of celebration for the two main Islamic feasts. Ibn Baṭṭūṭa provides no detail about the music, but according to the slightly later chronicle Taʾrīḫ-ī Fīroz Šahī, Muḥammad had been an admirer of the musician and poet Amīr Khusrow who is credited with several musical inventions, including ṣūfī chants called Qawwāl and even the musical instrument called sitar, although there is no historical evidence for this. In his poems and the Iʿjāz-i-Khusrau, Amīr Khusrow "mentioned Persian instruments like chang, rubab and barbat (also referred to as rud, tambur, and daff). He also mentioned Indian vinas, the four stringed alavan and the kingra (Sanskrit: kinnari), duhl (Sanskrit: dhaula, Hindi: dhol)." (see Karomat, 2012).
The wedding ceremony for the Arab amīr Sayf al-Dīn and the Sultan's sister Fīrūz Khūnda. Male and female musicians are mentioned, as well as the practices of playing standing to honour the newlyweds and the Indian custom according to which only the director of the ceremony was supposed to give presents to the musicians.
Sultan Muḥammad Ibn Tughluq had the supporters of a rebel malik (governor) killed in front of him by elephants, while musical instruments were sounded.
The author takes with him two "accomplished singers" on the journey to keep him company, and along the way hires three others.
Short recollection of Ḥaydariyya Sufi Order practices involving music and fire and possibly consuming cannabis (see Ḥaydariyya, EI-3 online).
At the end of their practices, Yogis sound "a sort of horn". According to the information provided by the author, these Yogis would have been located in Uzbekistan in the 14th Century. This may suggest that they belonged to the Yogi Nath tradition, in which bearing a horn became a symbolic part of their identity (see Mallison, 2013). Furthermore, it is known that Ṣūfī mingled with the Naths (see Mumtaz, 2023). The presence of such a group in the area at the time would be remarkable per se, however, the passage provides too little evidence to have historical certainty.
Description of the musical and dance performances at the bazaar of the Ṭarab/Music (Ṭarab Ābād). The event takes place in what has been the sultanate's capital for a short period of time. The city, originally called Dēōgīr, was personally re-designed by Muḥammad Ibn Tughluq (Jackson, 2003) and the presence of special places dedicated to music might have been an expression of interest in music given his supposed proximity to Amīr Khosrow.
The governor's custom of walking the streets accompanied by the music of drums and trumpets. This looks like a smaller version of the Delhi Sultan's custom of always moving with a sort of parade (see Siddiqi et al., eds., 1971, pp. 43-45).
Ifṭār celebration with the Vizir with qurʾānic cantillation and fakirs rituals with fire. Although there is no specific mention, it is possible that the Ṣūfīs mentioned in this passage were from the Qādirī Order, widespread in Maldives (see Maldives, EI-3).
An instrument for announcements in Maldives similar to a basin made of copper and beaten with an iron stick, called "dunqura" by the author. According to Gibb (following C.H.B.Reynolds), Vol. IV, n. 50: "Kurd means a water pot; dun or dum means 'smoke'; alternatively, don means 'pale or ripe-coloured' ... A brass pot would be lo kura."
About 500 women dancing in front of a statue of divinity every night. Until 1587, there was in Dondra (Tanavare) a renewed temple called Ishwaram which had several statues of divinities, then destroyed by Portuguese colonisers. Considering the intertwining of Hinduism and Buddhism in Sri Lanka's history, it is still debated if the described temple was at the time a Buddhist devale of Uppalavanna or a "kovil" temple of Vishnu (see Pathmanathan, 2000). The dancers mentioned by Ibn Baṭṭūṭa might have been "devadasis", female artists dedicated to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of their lives (see Holt, 2004).
The Sultan of Sumatra's greeting ceremony which include singing and horse dances. The author specifies that the singers are males. In Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's perception, the "horses' dances" are something wonderful and similar to the ones he witnessed before in Delhi. This kind of ceremony at Sumatra's court is confirmed in the two main chronicles that we have: the Hikayat Raja-Raja Pasai and the so-called Malay annals.
The sailors sing on the Pacific Ocean while while carrying out activities necessary for navigation.
The author and his fellow travellers are welcomed in the town by eminent figures and musicians.
The amīr's son sails in the canal of the city surrounded by other ships with musicians on them to feast. The musicians sang in Chinese, Arabic and Persian. Afterwards, the feast continues at the amīr's house with the presence of musicians. The name Amīr Qurṭay suggests Mongol origins, although he has not been identified with certainty.
Celebrations for the death of the ill-favored king in Beijing. The author's account does not correspond to the historical record of the events. Moreover, at the date of the actual king's death (1370), Ibn Baṭṭūṭa had long since returned to Morocco.
Account of the wedding of the son of Sumatra's king called al-Malik al-Ẓāhir. The identity of this king has been debated since Sulṭān Muḥammad al-Malik al-Ẓāhir is known to have died in 1326, whilst al-Malik al-Ẓāhir became an honorific title for rulers, also borne by Muḥammad's son Aḥmad (r. 1326–1360 ca.), and it was probably this sultan whom Ibn Baṭṭūṭa met (Hill 1963:15).
Account of Mali's Sultan audiences in his cupola. Ceremonial acts involving music are performed. For geographical reference of Māllī as lost capital, see Gibb, Vol. IV, p. 955-956, n. 40.
The ceremony taking place when Sultan reaches the audience hall including music with lute-like instruments.
Account of the way griots (dyeli) recite poetry to the Sultan: how they dress in birdlike costumes and exhort the rulers by reminding them of their predecessors.

The askia's messenger shouts during the prayer of the imām al-Tuwātī and the shaykh rebukes him because, according to Islamic traditions, the Prophet is always present when praised and a respectful attitude is required.
Threats are made between rulers referring to each other drums. When a lord reaches the royal palace has his drummer playing beyond the limit after which normally only the king's drum is sounded.
Askia Muḥammad Bonkana furbishes his court with musical instruments and male and female singers.
A suspected slanderer towards the askia is punished by tying him to a donkey and carrying him around the city as an example.
Al-Hādī, leader of a rebellion against the askia, reaches Gao with his horns and drum preceding him.
How a trumpet is used in the organisation of a plot to give the signal for enthroning an usurper.
Drums are beaten on the rooftops of Timbuktu by people assuming that Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq was going to become askia.
A prisoner is requested to raise the volume of voice in front of the askia but when he raise it too much is beaten.
The city governor attempts to assault the city but he is killed before entering it and his head is paraded through the city with a shouted warning.
The sound of gunfire is heard from what is perceived as a great distance.
Funeral prayer is performed on the prayer-ground [muṣallā] for a public figure in day of feast.
The sound of gunfire is heard from the army of Maḥmūd b. Zarqūn Pasha.
The sound of horses trampling on a shield terrifies the soldiers who take refuge in the lake Debo's waters.
A rigid control is imposed over Timbuktu and this includes moving the traditional time of the Prophet's praises in the month of Rabiʿ al-awwal.

In the passage it mentions that Rui di Sofa, accompanied by a large number of soldiers, meets the King of the Congo with "the noise of horns, timpani and other instruments that were part of his performance". This suggests that during the meeting between Rui di Sofa and the King of the Congo, horns, timpani and other musical instruments were used to create a festive and celebratory atmosphere.

During a military expedition, the Songhanians obtain the kakaki from Ayar (Agadez?) for the first time, according to the author.
Askya (King) Muhammad Bonkana is credited for the invention of two musical instruments: a trumpet called "fotorifo" and a drum called "gabtanda".
A proclamation by the new Askia made in the mosque of Djenné while travelling, translated by an interpreter and repeated loudly in the crowded place.
The Askiya holds court with his intimates while the flautists play in the room.
The kakaki is associated with royalty and it is only played at events at the palace of the king or sultan in Hausa societies.
In the context of a conspiracy, playing the drum of authority is mentioned as a sanction of actual enthronement.
The drum of authority is sounded to sanction the enthronement of the new askia.
Drums used for specific purposes in battle: to start the army's march and specific to the askias.
The Balma'a moves with his concubines who are flautists from the caste of the blacksmiths.
A herd of cows, positioned by the Songhay army as a protective shield, flees at the sound of gunfire, causing the death of many soldiers.
The Moroccan soldiers praise God loudly with traditional Islamic phrases.
A special drum is made for the "official of adultery" in Gao to summon accused people.
The askia coming to the Moroccan pasha's camp, is saluted with rifles and musical instruments.
The incitements shouted by the leader of the Moroccan army likely of Spanish origin, as the Pasha was.

When Domenico Trevisan arrived in Rosetta, he was greeted by drums and eight trumpeters.
Domenico Trevisan arrives at the audience with the Sultan. His eight trumpets cannot play inside the castle where he is welcomed by castanets, large cymbals and other instruments.

Giovanni Battista Perotto testifies to the presence of different sounds in the Church of the Sepulcher on the days of the Easter celebration.

Filippo Pigafetta tells of the artillery shots at the departure of the galley.
Filippo Pigafetta describes the singing in the Coptic Mass and the rhythmic accompaniment made with sticks and some small boards.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the presence of the Talisman (from the Persian "tilisman": religious) today the muezzin who calls to prayer from the mosque (the Patriarchate).
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the songs and dances of women working in the gardens outside Alexandria.
Filippo Pigafetta recounts bagpipers, dancers, players and singers in the pit of the Nile.
Filippo Pigafetta specifies the presence of sounds and songs of the people as they go to attend the festival of the flooding of the Nile.
Filippo Pigafetta recounts the moment before the cutting of the "Khalīj", with sounds, singing, shouting, screaming, and artillery noises.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the shouts and chants of the neighborhood watchmen in the night.
Filippo Pigafetta recounts that men go shouting down the street for the collection of garbage and garbage from the house.
Filippo Pigafetta describes the voice of women by performing the zaġrūṭa.
Filippo Pigafetta reports information on the market and the art of negotiation.
Filippo Pigafetta describes the procession camel and its cloth covering with many bells placed in descending order.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the chants and sounds of the procession to Mecca.
Filippo Pigafetta recounts the clamoring and rumbling of the people during the procession on its way to Mecca.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the presence of poets and singers in camels following the caravan heading to Mecca.
Filippo Pigafetta tells about the singing of the camel drivers.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the prayer and singing of the Psalm of Mary.
Filippo Pigafetta tells of the camel drivers singing around the fire in the night.
Filippo Pigafetta compares the Arabs' way of singing with that of the Spanish and other Europeans.
Filippo Pigafetta describes the singing of Arab females, the sound of castanets and dances.
Filippo Pigafetta points out that the friar's camel could no longer hear.

Description of the church in Saint Helena Island, equipped with people and ceremonial objects for the celebration of the mass.
São Tomé island has some churches, with a bishop, some clerics and a chaplain.
Pigafetta describes the sounds produced by the warriors of the kingdom of Congo, called Mociconghi. He compares this tradition from Congo to the European use of drums and trumpets.
Pigafetta describes the dresses of the Mociconghi warriors, with bells tied to the belt.

On a burial wall, the Anonimo Veneziano sees a funeral procession painted with musical instruments, dancing and singing.
After the story about Dongola, the Anonimo Veneziano recalls some carved drawings seen in 'fabrice'.

Richard Jobson describes hearing drums playing every night in the Royal Guard palace of the Kingdom of Cassan. He describes those drums as war drums. The entertainment function of these drums, though, cannot be excluded because they would play them every night after eating dinner. They also had a practical function, that of scaring away predators.
Richard Jobson describes the funeral of the Marybrucke, the chief religious man in the town where they stayed in. The ritual comprised of the improvised repetition of verses. The musical part of this burying ritual involved the women of the town. They would sing and cry repeating the same verses spoken by the religious man.

The inhabitants dedicate much of their time to dance, using drums made from barrels and some kind of leather. These drums are played with the hands and complemented by clapping, especially at night around large bonfires. The social pressure to adequately house and feed participants in these dances is mentioned.
Description of the musical instruments made from gourds and elephant teeth, as well as how they are played and utilized in various cultural and celebratory events as described in the diary

The traveller tells how frightened local nomads were by the sound of firing muskets and infers about their ignorance of the actual working of guns.
On the occasion of the celebrations for the end of the month of Ramadan, the Muslim travel group performs congregational prayer in a public place and the traditional sermon of the holiday is delivered in Arabic.
Noises are heard made by four elephants drinking in the nearby wadis, muskets are fired to scare the animals. At the same time, the sound of firing muskets scare the nomads gathering and preparing to assault the travellers.
The local governor (sulṭān) who is accompanying the travellers has the naqqāra beaten to celebrate that they received an answer to their letter from the king. The term naqqāra commonly refers to kettledrums.
The Muslim travellers perform the ritual prayer the day after the end of ʿīd al-aḍḥā (Festival of the Sacrifice) with the local fellow believers in the village's square in front of the Christian population.



Fermo Carrara and Giovanni Antonio Soderini saw the Janissaries shouting at two men who appeared to be thieves and therefore shot them with their muskets.
Fermo Carrara witnesses, along with Giovanni Antonio Soderini, the weeping and cries of women mourning the death of one child.
Fermo Carrara writes about the muezzins he hears shouting from the tops of the towers while traveling with Giovanni Antonio Soderini.
Fermo Carrara writes about the muezzins he hears shouting at specific times from the tops of the towers while traveling with Giovanni Antonio Soderini.
Fermo Carrara and Giovanni Antonio Soderini see the large number of barking dogs in Cairo, Carrara points out that the Arabs do not harm them, whereas the Turks do.
Fermo Carrara hears, while traveling with Giovanni Antonio Soderini, the zaġrūṭa of the women in Cairo and the cries of the saints in the mosques chanting "Hù Hù", a term that translates to "he."
Fermo Carrara describes the naked saints and other clothed men he sees in the procession to Mecca during the journey with Giovanni Antonio Soderini. All the men continuously sing the usual "Hù Hù".
Fermo Carrara, traveling with Giovanni Antonio Soderini, recounts the presence of several drummers in the procession to Mecca, each representing different schools.
Fermo Carrara recounts witnessing with Giovanni Antonio Soderini the shouts of men who no longer announce the rising levels of the Nile, but rather the attainment of the mark indicated by the nilometer with songs and drums.
Fermo Carrara, while traveling with Giovanni Antonio Soderini, recounts that at Hagia Sophia, no Christians were allowed to enter anymore because once the sound of a bell interrupted their prayer.

During the dances, the Blacks produce sounds beating their feet on the ground; the dances are accompanied with makeshift instruments, made with everyday objects. Men are trained in the fight and encouraged by drums. If they win the fight, they are incited by the Griot who praises them loudly.
During the ritual of the burial of the king, you can hear the sound of instruments similar to flutes and oboes. You can also hear the voice of a crowd of Blacks crying and shouting as loud as they can.

Young girls are sent to a kind of public school to learn to sing dance and perform in general. After a year of lessons they perform in public and can be chosen as brides.
The fellowship of the sect of the Belly is a school established every 20/25 years, by order of the king for training up young men and boys to dance, to skirmish, to plant, to fish, and to sing often, in a noisy manner.

Music is present during the war. During the military marches, you can hear the soldiers shouting; the big consecrated drum is brought, which you can listen to along with other wind musical instruments. They preserve bones with which they adorn their drums.

On the Slave Coast they have different types of musical instruments and, according to the author, the sounds they produce are less annoying than those heard at the Gold Coast.

During the sailing in open sea, from Lisbon to Brazil, after the Cape Verde sea, and during the daily Mass, they sing the Rosario and later the Litanie.
An another Capuchin who was a Superior Friar, Padre Martino Francese who lived in Salvador de Bahia for 14 years, narrated to Girolamo Merolla that natives sang with the priests "la Messa, e il Vespero", even though they couldn't read.
Sailing near the Cape of Good Hope, Girolamo Merolla writes about the natives: they don't communicate by speaking, but through whistles.
Merolla reports an episode: in the area nearby the Cape of Good Hope, a local tribe welcomes European travelers with dances. They are women, naked, bringing wood. The Captain, in order to approach them, launched some European tools (such as knives, mirrors, corals). While dancing, the women approach the two navigators landed and, quickly, kidnap the Captain: these tribes are cannibals.
Girolamo Merolla and the navigators, once arrived in the Port of Angola (Loanda), are welcomed by politicians and the populations. In the local church, they sing the Te Deum laudamus.
Given that they are only three people, they have a normal ceremony of the Te Deum laudamus. In particular or important moments, they used to combine the sing with musical instruments and then Merolla writes about these important and crowded moments.
The first sunday after the Pentecost, Girolamo Merolla, in his sermon, attacks the murders, too much in this reign (he thinks). So the people in the church, who don't agree, start to make noise: Merolla tries to stop them ringing a bell.
Other capuchin friars (Merolla unspecified the names) tell to the new capuchins arrived about a witch, who exercises with his son. In order to be soon notice, she is annouced by playing a drum.
One of the pretenders to the throne of the Congo (the King recently died), Simantamba tries to convince one of the voters of the new king to give him his sister in wife. To avoid accidents, he meets her in a wood, announced by songs, sounds and dances. Someone tries to warn him of the danger of an ambush, but among the crowd there are armed enemy dancers who kill him.
Simantamba adjusted himself according to the song of his cock and he understood if the luck was good or bad. He believed in it, but, despite the sing, Simantamba died.
Girolamo Merolla recounts the practice to sing Litanie in every church of the Mission. He generally talks about the territory of Sogno/Soyo.
Girolamo Merolla describes important moments of the life of "Gentili", including weddings, pregnancies and babies. Talking about little babies and rituals during their growth, he reports parents put a rattle to their babies, tied at the waist. This is a practice to hear the babies while they are alone scratching on the ground like chickens, to make sure the babies don't live the area.
To prevent thefts in the fields, the friars send youth students to dissuade people with voices and flags. Returning from the fields after performing their task, these devoted and cheerful boys sing the Litanie.
The person judged in favour in a dispute celebrate the victory with a long party with songs and sounds, with his family in his house.
In this part of the diary, P. Girolamo Merolla recounts a ritual for the Emperor Cassangi's Birthday party: Merolla wasn't at the event, but he was told by Padre Gio:Battista Da Salesano. For this event, the Cassangi's subjects caught and fought with a lion. During the fight,they set the lion free and they try to stun it with noises and sounds with instruments. At the end of the "battle", where a lot of men die, they eat the people killed by the lion (or in the crowds) singing.
Merolla describes for pages the clothing of the Count of Sogno, based on religious occurrences: in this long paragraphes, he dwells on the musical instruments that accompany on his routes.
During the most important Christian holidays, at the presence of the Count, at the end of Masses, the Count of Sogno was accompanied by dances, music and blank shots.
Merolla hears from P. Francesco da Pavia the story of great white birds, similar to the geese, doing some particular dances when hearing sounds of instruments: the nature has taught dancing to the blacks, naturally. P. Francesco stops and wacht at the birds.
Merolla reports a bird's verse, mentioning also in the Padre Cavazzi's diary, and he hears the bird saying Jesus Christ. The bird is small and nice, black and blue, it sings early in the morning. Jesus inspire birds, but He can't do the same with the hard hearts of "Gentili".
Merolla describes a particular bird (there is an italian example similar to this) who sings the word "honey" (Vuichi). People who believe on the word can be surprised by a hidden lion.
Merolla says that in Sogno/Soyo there are not any tiger. But in case of it, people try to ward off the tiger making noises with drums, instruments, crying.
During an Easter day, with the excommunicated Count of Sogno and his voters, we can hear sounds of instruments and people screams.
Before a clash between rival bands, they use to play particular and noisy drums played with their hands. Battles are not one to one, but beetween bands.
Moving from Sogno, Merolla starts a new mission in Regno d'Angoij. In his first stop in the port of Caginda (now Cabinda), during a daily Mass, some women clap their hands seing an image of the Virgin Mary.
Some slaves, who have to help Merolla on his journey, want their pay in advance and, angry, they clap their hands and feet as if they were percussion.
During the journey inside the kingdom, once arrived at the Banza of Lemba, Merolla and her companions are welcomed with the sound of trumpets, drums and servants. Once welcomed in the square, people intoned in Congolese the Rosario.
After the Mass, Merolla is invited to the King’s Palace. He reminds to the King of Kongo that he has to officially crown him. Hearing this, the court starts to celebrate with sounds and screams.
To celebrate a victory of the Marquis of Mattari over other submissive peoples, the people celebrate it despite that it is Holy Week (and no sounds and noises are expected), and during the recitation of the Litanie.
The burial ceremonies have various moments: after some superstitious rites to ward off the spirits of the dead, they cry for a long time, then begin to party. They eat and drink a lot, forgetting the dead e then they start dancing: these particular sounds make them to have orgies.
Merolla reports the episode of a collective sacrifice told by the friar Francesco Romano (in this case with five noblemen), in a tribe called Tambi, which occurred in the Kingdom of Benin (Benino), where the friar protests the King for cruelty and try to stop the ritual.





Moore arrived in Nackway and people welcomed him making some music called “Balafeu”. The instrument that they use seems like a small organ composed by twenty pipes of very hard wood, finely rubbed and polished; which Pipes drecreases by little and little both in lenght and breadth and are tied together with thongs. These Thongs are twisted about small round Wands, which are put between every one of these pipes. On the “organ” they play with two sticks that are covered by thin leather of a ciboa’s tree, to make the sound less harsh. Both men and women dance to this music, they like it a lot. They are also very happy to have a white man (F. Moore) between them. If they drink a liquor offered by a white man that they don’t know, they don’t drink, because they are scared to be poisoned.
In Yamacunda (Senegambia) they have a strange ritual when there is the eclipse of the moon. They think that a cat put his paws between the moon and the earth. The Maomethans in that place sing and dance all the time. In January they observe a very strict ritual. They don’t eat and drink when the sun rises and goes down. They pray in every moment.

Vitaliano Donati tells of the muezzins of a Mosque.
Vitaliano Donati points out that the governor of each colony is in charge of drumming.
Vitaliano Donati recounts the entry into Cairo of Ahmet Pasha who arrived in Boulaq on November 20, 1748 and the presence of drums in the procession.
Vitaliano Donati describes a chamber of the Pyramids by pointing out that the wall of it rings like a bell.
Vitaliano Donati describes the verse of a bird revered by the Egyptians.
Vitaliano Donati tells of the arrival in Memphis and the dancers who demanded payment with a ‘medino’, local currency.
Vitaliano Donati reflects on the dancing of professional dancers and their payment at weddings.
Vitaliano Donati offers some reflections on the music and dance of Arabs and Turks by referring to their performance in Ramadan.
Vitaliano Donati reports the presence of musical instruments and dances in marriage processions.
Vitaliano Donati recounts a sword dance performed by two men towards Saqqara.
Vitaliano Donati recounts the procession of the dowry from the house of a bride to that of the groom and mentions the musical accompaniment.
Vitaliano Donati inserts the term "balare" (dance) in a part of the manuscript structured as a dictionary.

James Cook reports a testimony of Joseph Banks where some of the crew make an expedition through the country, but have some trouble for the extreme cold. After having lost some of the party, they hear a shout
James Cook writes that when starting the matches, the combatants make a noise striking a fore-arm with the other hand, the old men celebrate the victor repeating words in a kind of tune and during the matches some men perform a dance
James Cook makes a description of the funeral ceremonies in Otaheite, that start with lamentations. The day after, during the procession with the body, the preast prays and repeats sentences
James Cook reports about a meeting with a company of dancers and description of its members and musical instruments, how they play the drums and dance, and a dramatic interlude performed by men during the dances


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.

Giovanni Battista Belzoni writes that he sees some Arabs who are dancing to the rhythm of tambourines.

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 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.

Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes the confusion of downtown Alexandria.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes the women's laments for a funeral, the festive procession for a bride in Alexandria, the chant of the Imam, and the barking of dogs.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes the music accompanying Ibraim-pasha's return to Cairo after defeating the Vehabites, with all the military pomp of the night. Music of drums, timpani, fifes and oboes could be heard.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes the Muezzins in Cairo sounding different to him than those heard in Siut because of the noise of the city.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli says her husband Giuseppe gave a great lunch, and in the evening there was a performance by a music academy that rounded out the day.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli tells that in Livorno, a bell is placed in front of St. Leopold's Lazaretto, welcoming travelers for the 40 days in absentia.

Girolamo Segato tells of the customs the Turks have when a child is born, which he observes in Egypt.
Girolamo Segato recounts the celebration of Muhammad's festival (Mawlid al-Nabī), which falls on the 12th day of the lunar month of Rabi' al-awwal.
Girolamo Segato notes the use of drums in the procession for the festival of Muhammad.
During the procession for the feast of Muhammad, Girolamo Segato sees 100 or more inverted copper conical drums.
Girolamo Segato wrote this letter to his brother Vincenzo on 26 December 1820 from Cairo, also writing this anecdote about the presence of music at work in the city of Qualabseh.

Marco Augusto Costanzi finishes his second return to Egypt and leaves Alexandria where there is not all the "noise" of the crowd greeting him as the first time.
Marco Augusto Costanzi remembers some things about Egypt while in Corfu and describes a moment in the marriage rite.

Giovanni Battista Brocchi recalls that on the Island of Melena last summer he had heard subterranean noises and rumblings that he wrote about in the Milan Newspaper in August.
In Ragusa Giovanni Battista Brocchi listens to lyrical ditties accompanied by guitar and describes the language in which they are sung and their metrics.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells oft the "colende" sung in Ragusa on the feasts of their name, and on the vigils of St. Nicholas, Christmas, New Year's Eve and Epiphany.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells about one of the Turkish Dervis plays his horn which he wears on his belt to call the believers to prayer. It is an Antelope's horn, or Gazelle, called "Gheiz" in Turkish.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi recounts a musical event he witnessed at Dr. Morpurgo's house. The musical instruments were: a psaltery known as a "Ganun" (qānūn), a seven-stringed double gut guitar (‘ūd), a tiny rattlesong harpsichord (ṭār), and a kind of violin (kamāncheh) with a very bizarre shape.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the chants of the Arabs preventing him from sleeping during the boat trip. When they arrived at the mouth of the Nile they sang another song as they unloaded goods.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi is located in the city of Old Cairo, in the Costi district, and compares the structure of St. Macario Church and St. Sergio Church. In these churches there is a section dedicated to singing priests.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi visits the Greek church of St. George in Old Cairo and notices a pendulum clock with bells that he says he has not seen in other eastern churches.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi is at the village of Minsendi and witnesses the theft of a thief. Here he describes the worry and screams of the women in the village.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the women's reaction to the theft that occurred to Brocchi's boat and tells how they have a custom to cry.
The howling of jackals disturbed Giovanni Battista Brocchi's sleep, who described their howling as at times comparable to the human voice and the barking of dogs.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the composition of the walls surrounding the dwellings, which are also made in this way to fall and procure heart as unwelcome guests pass through.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi mentions an earlier description tying it also to the Ababdi Arabs. They have a Pyrrhic dance and an instrument that looks like a real lyre.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi talks about continuation of the account of the procession in honor of the memory of St. Ibrahim Kenavi in Kenneh, where there are two camels with two drummers on them.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi witnessed the procession returning from the ceremony of delivering the carpet to be taken to Mecca at the Emir hagy. It was not a majestic procession but had musical accompaniment.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi claims that Arabic love songs are written for dancers. He also names a famous dancer called Gul-beiad.
The way of talking about Copts described by Giovanni Battista Brocchi. He also claims that they do not sing wretchedly at night unlike "our rabble".
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the preparation of the Nile cutting festival, which is the only truly national festival in Cairo.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi reports an old man's account of the city of Cairo saying that he heard voices of women, children and the bleating of sheep.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes churches and monasteries and also dwells on the bell towers in Kisrawan district.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells of two mosques collapsing along with their minarets from which a human voice, that of the Muezzin, can be heard.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi in recounting some information about the Mar-Hanna convent (Hammana - Lebanon) specifies that the Mass is done in Greek while the Psalms are sung in Arabic.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi recounts that in the printing shop of the Maronite Convent in "Coshaia" where Monk Serafino Susceni was engaged in casting bells, but did not succeed greatly in this undertaking.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells that a monk stands at the lookout of the Convent of St. Saba and with the ringing of a bell makes a sign if the door is opened.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the function of the Sacred Fire in the Church of the Sepulcher. Account that he says is also given by other travelers such as Fr. Nah and Maundrell.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes how the Cascef have the title of Bey, but without the honors usually given to the Bey such as being preceded by the drums and having the ciaùs with the bell.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi cites Diodorus' description of the ancient Egyptians, in which he argued that they liked neither music nor gymnastic exercises.
Giovannia Battista Brocchi at night hears the chants of school boys, who learning to read in another voice make an unholy "tintimara". They were joined by a bunch of people singing boisterously in the wake of a drummer.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi was received at the palace by Mahu Bey, who ordered one mammalucco to hold a guitar, and another to sing a Turkish song to entertain the guests.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi again describes thunder by placing side by side to describe its sound the word "moo" to mean the roar of water.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the song, music and dance of Arabs and Turks in comparison. He describes many musical instruments such as: the tambourine called "Delluca", the timpani called "Nogara", the horn called "Sufàr", the fife called "Zumarra", the lyre called "Rabàba", and tells of the different dances of men and women.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi compiles a dictionary of the language of the Ababdi Arabs. Verbs include the verb to beat, sing and dance.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi talks about the hardships of the Muslim religion and argues that the presence of more arts in religious ceremonies are something good that makes prayer even more beautiful.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the role of music in the battle. The use of the "Nogara", gazelle horns, "dinghil" (tympanum).
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the qualities of poetry, poets and singers, even mentioning Gideiah slave who sings a military song.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes the song, music and dance of Arabs and Turks in comparison. He also reports a mention of the way women speak.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi notes the method of closing a surgeon's wound. The latter takes a cat and brings it close to the wound, so at the animal's cry the sick person is frightened and everything in its place and he can suture.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells that in these countries a woman named Senninar reigned and lived alone in the middle of the forest. Before she became queen she was a slave to whom all passersby brought honey and other produce, even the "Fung" discovered her.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi tells about Ramadan by also reporting what he saw in Cairo. There one sleeps during the day and sings and plays at night.
Giovanni Battista Brocchi describes a bird he sees and its behavior with other similar birds, describing the sounds of a place contention. This bird is not convinced to be an Ibis. Although many explorers say it is present in Egypt he has never seen it.

Amalia Sola Nizzoli recounts a letter from her uncle who remained in Egypt. He tells him about a play he attended on the day of Epiphany.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli tells about Rossane. During her wedding, she and her groom hear singers and dancers entertaining the guests in the room next to theirs.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli recounts the music, songs, and especially the clothes and movements of the dancers. She also describes the payment the men reserve for the dancers and the anger of the women toward the dancers.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli tells of a dance she witnesses in the palace of Rossane, wife of the Pasha Abdin Bey. The dancers sing and accompany themselves with "castagnette".
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes the sound of city during the Nile flood festival. This is filled with singing and dancing and a joyful atmosphere.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes when, during the Nile cutting ceremony, women are also seen freely walking through the crowd and with dancers enlivening the festivities.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli talks about women go to the dwelling of the deceased where they sing, jump, clap their hands, beat their faces even to the sound of a drummer expressing grief.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli tells of the reforms brought by Mehemed Ali and the innovations brought to the area. These include a Tyrolean clarinet maker who proposed making cavafangos.
Amalia Sola Nizzoli describes that the officers of an American vessel held a party with music near Smyrna on an island called Cordelion (Lionheart). Sixty ladies were invited. The band played accompanying the meal.

Giovanni Miani tells of the dance performance of some women to the sound of clapping and the lyre known as "Kosserki" (probably the correct name is "Kissar").
Giovanni Miani attends dances, describing songs, movements, and the presence of the "tarabuka" (the correct name is probably "darabukka").
Giovanni Miani tells how communication occurs between tribes. They use a drum called a "nugara" (the correct name is probably "naqqāra" or "nagāṙā").
Giovanni Miani describes dancing and Shilluk spouses. He mentions a pyrrhic dance with the fruits of dom on their feet; another type of rattle; trumpets; lyres; drums.
Giovanni Miani explains the significance of the varei signals given through the "nugara" from one tribe to another (the correct name of the drum is probably "naqqāra" or "nagāṙā").
Giovanni Miani describes the tribù of "Gniam-gniam" (Zande ethnic group). He saw them dancing and blowing large trumpets made from elephant tusks.
Giovanni Miani describes the music and dance of the Bari ethnic group. He talks about their songs accompanied by the "nugara" (the correct name is probably "naqqāra" or "nagāṙā") and the dances he witnesses.
Giovanni Miani recounts the killing of a hippopotamus and later reports that the "nugara" (the correct name is probably "naqqāra" or "nagāṙā") did not work as a call for help.