G'day all,

Mafreeh's songs look most interesting but, from the words quoted by suggest a possibity that the song chased is (as Aminaterra guesse s) "The King of the Cannibal Islands".

"The King of the Cannibal Islands" was popular in the mid-to-late 19th century/early 20th century and is found in most comprehensive songsters from the period. I would have it in perhaps half a dozen different books in my collection.

The tune is used for a number of Australian songs from the colonial era - including one detailing all the terrible things that happen to an English settler coming to buy a property in the new country ... apparently made up for a shipboard concert by a bunch of immigrants who had not yet reached Australia! A.L. Lloyd said that the tune was very popular for union songs in the early part of this century.

The tune also survives as a dance tune and I would have it in MusicTime notation somewhere on the computer. If "The King of the Cannibal Islands" is one of the songs requested, I can scan in the words and download the tune in MIDI / ABC but i would be surprised if it is not in DT.

Regards,

Bob Bolton