6 BULLETIN 136, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



A particularly fine gong was given to President Pierce in 1856 by 

 the King of Siam (3991, pi. 2b). The shell and head are of beaten 

 brass or bell metal, in one piece. The single head is flat and orna- 

 mented with designs in repousse. On the border of the head are- 

 four metal frogs in full relief, placed an equal distance apart. The 

 two drumsticks are of rosewood, their lower ends tipped with ivory 

 ferrules. Their heads are cylindrical and tapering, and covered with 

 a network of white cord. 



A Chinese gong rests on a carved wood base with five legs (81891, 

 pi. 2d). This is of bronze cast in one piece and was collected in 

 1891 by Dr. Julius Neumann. 



A different sort of gong, common in Malay countries, has a knob, 

 or " boss," from which the sides slope sharply to their widest diam- 

 eter, then turn inward to a slighly smaller diameter. Such gongs 

 range from 4 or 5 inches in diameter and about 3 inches in depth, to 

 huge gongs that are about 20 inches in diameter and almost the same 

 in depth. This type is probably Chinese in origin, and is frequently 

 used in series of 8 or 10, graduated in size, and placed on cords which 

 are strung the length of a wooden frame, near the ground, with the 

 smallest at the player's left hand (312855, pi. 2c). The performer 

 sits on the ground beside the frame, holds a padded stick in each 

 hand, and uses both sticks in striking the tops of the gongs. It is 

 said that a very large gong is sometimes hung near a series of small 

 gongs to provide the lowest tone, but the large gong is used chiefly 

 in transmitting messages. Such a gong is struck on top of the boss, 

 and the player's left hand is placed around the boss in such a man- 

 ner as to affect the sound. There is ample evidence of the accuracy 

 with which messages are thus transmitted, but it appears that the 

 method has not been studied in detail. 



A Siamese " gong harmonium " from Bangkok was exhibited at the 

 Centennial Exposition in 1876 and, with a large collection, was pre- 

 sented to this Museum by the King of Siam (27316, pi. 4). It com- 

 prises 16 gongs, and is exhibited with a figure showing the manner 

 in which it was played. 



A curious instrument classified as a " multiple gong " resembles 

 a bundle of bamboo rods wrapped in matting (152744). This was 

 collected in Samoa or Navigator Islands by Harold M. Sewall and 

 described as follows by Mr. Hawley: 



The mat is straightened out. The 15 bamboo sticks are laid in two vows. 

 commencing with the largest at one end of the mat, and extend past its middle. 

 the inner ends of the two rows passing by each other. The mat is rolled, in- 

 closing the bamboos, quite tightly and tied with a string. It is beaten with 

 three sticks from which the bark has been removed. Used at their night 

 dances. 



