[663]. Laura Alexandrine Smith, Music of the Waters, London, 1888; John Ashton, Real Sailor Songs, London, 1891. Boatmen’s songs changing or dying out: Bücher, pp. 128 f. Bücher’s little group of boatmen’s songs, pp. 118 ff., 66 ff., is far more valuable than these long and random collections. See his comments, pp. 68 ff. For example, the boat-song of North American Indians, taken from Baker, is foolishness to the Greeks who make collections for popular use, but is full of instruction for the student of poetry; it runs, without the musical notes:—
Ah yah, ah yah, ah ya ya ya,
Ah ya ya ya, ah ya ya ya,
Ya ya ya ya ya ya.
[664]. Böckel, p. lx. Roman oarsmen had not only the celeusma to time their strokes, but often a song of their own: Zell, II. 208.
[665]. Ed. Murray, E. E. T. S., pp. 40 ff.
[666]. Bücher, p. 68.
[667]. Wallaschek, pp. 41, 47. See, too, p. 166: “Mr. Reade observed that his people”—Africans—“always began to sing when he compelled them to overcome their natural laziness and to continue rowing.”
[668]. Chappell, Pop. Music Olden Time, pp. 482, 783; Skelton, Bowge of Court.
[669]. “Cantilenam his verbis Anglice composuit;” see Historia Eliensis, II. 27, in Gale, Hist. Script., I. 505; it gives the account here quoted, then the verses, adding “et caetera, quae sequuntur, quae usque hodie in choris publice cantantur.” ...