Delaware Indian Discussion Board

[ Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]

Re:  Wooden Water Drum   (for Lewlew)

From: MaryEllen Flynn    mebflynn@comcast.net
Date: 4/26/2003
Time: 10:11:59 PM
Remote Name: 68.45.172.200

Comments

HE!

I havewatched a Delaware man in OKLA tie a drum head unto a kettle- but that's a modern version. I have a wooden water drum that I show in my Lenape lectures. The water drum was an early type of drum used by Eastern woodland tribes. My was made for me by an Oneida lady (or her husband). My drum is rather small, it is 4" high,4 1/2" in diameter, and has a tight-fitting wooden ring covered in thin buckskin to hold the LEATHER (not rawhide)skin stretched over the top. The ring holds the tanned skin tight over the top. (It works just like an embroidery hoop used over cloth that is to be decorated). Here's how it appears to have been made: Asection of a sapling approx. 5" in diameter is scrapped or chiseled out until the sides are about 1/4 to 1/2" thick. Then a tight-fitting base is carved to fit and seal the bottom of the hollow wood. It appears that the base was glued in and holes drilled for 4 wooden plugs which were sanded off smooth to the surface of the drum. A ring 5 1/2 " in diameter withwalls 1/4" thick was carved, sanded, etc. to form atight fit over the drum body. To pull the leather drum head even tighter, the "embroidery ring" was wrapped in a spiral of thin buckskin. The circle of leather (drum head) is approx. 9" in diameter. The drumhead skin is large enough so that the part that hangs over the sides of the drum can be used as a hand hold to pull it even tighter. My drum has a thick coating of wax on the inside to stop leaks, and halfway between the top and bottom is a hole (1/2" in diam. ) drilled into the cavity. There is a handcarved wooden plug for the hole. It's the place to add water. The drumstick is 11" long, 1/2" wide and tapersdown to a small knob. The knob-head is NOTcovered with any padding. Here's how mine works: pour enough water in to fill the drum about 1/3rd full. Replace the plug, and for a spillproof drum ,put a small piece of light buckskin around the plug for a really tight fit. Make sure the ring is tight around the drum head, and turn the drum upside down to wet the leather. Turn it upright abd allow the drum head to dry a little. Then tighten the ring around the drum and stretch the leather as tight as you can. This should produce a sound that, I hear, can be heard rather far away! If you want a larger drum, probably just increase all the dimensions proportionately. If you would to consult the Oneida craftswoman, e-mail me. WANISHI !

Last changed: April 26, 2003