Well, I googled! Here is another good story:

http://www.drummagazine.com/gear/post/historic-collectible-civil-war-drums/

Brew - good stuff! I also found this quote on another drum history site:

"In certain parts of Africa, drums are venerated, and also given entities and gender. It is not uncommon for the people of these places to refer to drums as male, and give them sacred names. Women in some parts must treat drums with the same respect that they would give the male body, and in some rare historical cases, African women were killed simply for touching these instruments. Therefore, the history of the drum has evolved from one of religious use and interpretation to musical accompaniment and creation."

I guess that means when a drummer told his girlfriend to keep her hands off his drums back in the old-days... they meant business! Keep on Pl

John