HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 3 



a gong ranges from the flat stones of primitive man to the beauti- 

 fully carved gong of jade from Japan (Cat. No. 94890, pi. Id), the 

 carving on the ower portion representing a bat and on the upper 

 an openwork design of flowers. Gongs are generally circular in 

 form, but a triangular metal gong was used long ago in Burma, and 

 a triangular stone, suspended from a wooden frame, was used in 

 Chinese households to announce the arrival of a guest, the number 

 of strokes indicating his rank. Gongs of stone and wood cut in the 

 shape of fish were used in Japan, and an interesting example from 

 China appears in this exhibit as 94858 (pi. 2a). The Chinese name 

 is literally translated as " wooden fish." The shape resembles that 

 of a globular sleigh bell. It is carved from a block of wood, the 

 loop-like handle formed by two dragons meeting nose to nose. A 

 five-petaled flower is carved in low relief on the sides, which is 

 gilded, and the body of the gong is lacquered with vermilion. It 

 is beaten with a round stick, the handle of which is decorated with 

 red cord. Another small wooden gong is in crescent form (95222). 

 This is suspended by a cord and beaten with a stick. 



The large percussion instruments made of logs are technically 

 " gongs," but the term "drum" is a more convenient designation, 

 No. 2827 is commonly called a " war drum." It was received about 

 the year 1840 from the Fiji Islands and is 55 inches long and 18 

 inches high. It consists of a log of hard red wood, hollowed like 

 a trough. When in use a coil of rope forms its base. It is beaten 

 on the edge of the opening with two sticks, one larger than the 

 other, the strokes of the two alternating. Another gong made of 

 a log is 95157. It is not hollowed out so completely as the preceding 

 and is decorated with round spots burned in a row along the open- 

 ings. The description says that when used in war it is beaten in 

 the middle, but at feasts, and the like, it is beaten between the middle 

 and the ends. This comes from the Gabboon River in West Africa. 

 A particularly interesting specimen is 174758 (pi. 35) from the 

 Congo in Africa. It is designated as a "telegraph drum" and was 

 probably used by the natives in conveying rhythmic messages. It is 

 made from a solid log and has two holes drilled through from one 

 side to within half an inch of the other side; a slot 1 inch wide 

 and 10 inches long connects these and is drilled to the same depth. 

 The cavity inside the drum was made by working from the holes 

 and an opening in each end. Not all the wood is excavated, but a coni- 

 cal-shaped chunk, divided by the slot, is left attached to the front 

 side. The outside is ornamented with curved lines. From each end 

 projects an ear, and in these are inserted the ends of a stick bent 

 in a half circle. This crude article has an air of mystery and sug- 

 gests the wild, primitive environment from whence it came. 



