The Music of Hindostan c6.205

c6.205

From Quilon to Trivandrum is a series of lakes and canals formed by the silting, in early times, of the alluvium of five rivers. Alleppey is about half way; and the method of cultivation there is this. The fields, surrounded by low banks, are, during the rains, inundated, and coated with fresh soil. The water is then pumped out, and paddy sown. Practically a large part of the country is most of the year under water of shallow depth, and locomotion is almost entirely by boat. This lends itself to singing. I had two opportunities. Once, in an open boat with four men. I was innocent of their language and had no interpreter, so that I was unable to tell what view they were taking of their passenger, who is usually the topic of their song. I had merely armed myself with the Malayalam for ‘sing’ and ‘repeat’.