ACADEMY 07 SCIENCES] SOCIAL ENJOYMENTS 131 



fifth, sixth, and seventh divisions, one or more holes being added in the center between the sixth 

 and seventh divisions. For a mouthpiece, a segment of bamboo about 2 centimeters long is 

 placed over the jointed end of the flute at the first division but in such a way as not to cover 

 completely the opening at that point. 



The sound is produced by the breath passing through the opening last mentioned and 

 striking the edge of the aperture that it partially covers. 



When played, this form of flute is held in a horizontal position. The point is inserted into 

 the mouth and the three consecutive holes at divisions Nos. 5, 5%, and 6 are covered by the 

 first, second, and third fingers, respectively, of the right hand. 



In pitch this instrument is lower than the other three but in the quality of the music it in 

 no wise differs from them. 



GUITARS 



The vine-string guitar. — There are two kinds of vine-string guitars, differing only in size and 

 name, as far as I know, so that a description of the smaller one 7 will answer for the larger. 8 



It varies in length from 1.5 meters to 2 meters. 9 The combined neck and finger board and 

 the hollow boat-shaped sounding box are of one piece. The other part of the guitar is a thin 

 strip of wood with a lozenge-shaped hole in the center, that fits with great accuracy on the 

 bottom of the sounding box. The head is always a scroll, rudely carved into a remote suggestion 

 of a rooster's head, as the name indicates, 10 and two holes are pierced in it for the insertion of the 

 tuning pegs. Along the neck are from 9 to 12 little wooden frets, fastened to the finger board 

 with beeswax. I can give no information as to the rule by which the interfret distances are 

 determined. 



The strings are two in number and extend from the tuning pegs through two holes in the 

 neck and over the finger board and the sounding box to an elevated piece left on the sounding 

 piece. An interesting feature of these strings is that they are the central part or core of a small 

 vine n and give out rather sweet tones, though not so loud as catgut. 



Projecting from the end of the sounding box, and forming one continuous piece with it, is 

 an ornamental piece carved into a semblance of the favorite fowl head. 



The guitar is held like guitars the world over, and the playing is performed by twanging the 

 strings with a little plectrum of bamboo or wood. 12 



The quality of the music is soft and melancholy, wholly in minor keys and of no great 

 range, probably not exceeding one octave. As far as I can judge it bears a resemblance to 

 Chinese music. Various tunes are played on both forms of guitar according to the caprice and 

 skill of the performer. 13 



There are no special occasions for playing this guitar. It is not played by women nor is 

 it used as an accompaniment for singing. The performer takes up the instrument as the whim 

 prompts him and in the semidarkness plays his rude, melancholy tune. 



The bamboo string guitar. H — The bamboo guitar is made of an internode of one of the larger 

 varieties of bamboo. 15 Five small cylindrical strips are cut along the surface and small wedges 

 of wood are inserted under them at the ends to stretch them and retain them in an elevated 

 position. These strips extend from joint to joint. There are usually two bass strings on one side 

 and three treble strings on the other. Between these treble bass strings is a longitudinal slit 

 in the bamboo joint intended to increase the resonance of the instrument. The strings are at 

 intervals of about 3 centimeters. Two holes are made in the joint walls, the purpose of which 

 is to increase the volume of sound. 



7 Kud-lunQ. 



f Bin-i-jd-an. 



9 Ordinarily the bdn-ti or the sa-gu-bdd-bad wood is used. 



i° Min-an-uk, from munuk, a fowl. 



ii Bin-tig. 



i' As to the tuning and modulating of the instrument I can give no information. The matter requires further study. 



■> The following are the names of some of the melodies: Di-u-wd-ta ko (Oh, my familiar spirit), a-ydu-u-ydu^i (don't, oh, don't), to-ldng-tt (the 

 sky), i-ka-nufig-ud, ta-ta-li-bufig, pan-in-6-ug, mi-a-pi tin-ig-bds-ai, du-yug-du^yug, ta-Qa-lin-dus, tingya-sau, masiirQUd, pa-md-bd to ba-ku-ta, 

 dani-tan. 



» Tan-kd. 



» Pa-lung, da-nu-dn, kai-yau-an. 



64858 O - 41 - 10 



