Text from the Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah, December 21, 1898, reporting on the Anglo-Sudanese War
Photo: Dervish Kettle Drum
QUEER DERVISH DRUMS
Many strange and interesting relics were picked up on the field after the battle between the English and Egyptian troops and the dervishes by the troopers. They have gone to make up a collection of souvenirs of the Egyptian campaign, which will be placed in the British national Museum. Among the things which were found were a number of dervish drums.
They are peculiarly constructed, and are rather more picturesque than the other relics. Unlike the drums used in our army and navy, those from the desert of the Sudan have but one head. The drums have the appearance of kettles, and the bodies are made of metal, highly polished and beautifully decorated in many strange and curious designs. They are much larger in circumference than our drums, but rather squatty.
The noise from them is not so sharp as that from ours. The head, which is made of skin tightly drawn over the top of the drum, is fastened to the sides by bands of metal handsomely etched. Cords are also fastened to the band and placed about the main part.
