HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 67 



7 to 8V4 inches. A " country drum " from Egypt, with shell of 

 bent wood painted black, is 95172. 



Several of the double-headed drums are highly decorated. Among 

 these is 95287, a " tenor " or " long drum " from Italy. A Siamese 

 drum (27317) is barrel shaped and larger at one end than the other. 

 It is painted red and stenciled with gilt designs. No. 94664 is from 

 Japan, the cylindrical shell gilded and painted in colors. Two raw- 

 hide heads are stretched over hoops of greater diameter than the 

 shell of the drum. The lacing is a thong of rawhide passing back 

 and forth across the shell from holes made in the heads close to 

 the hoops. It rests on a fancy lacquered stand and is played with 

 two drumsticks resembling those for a snare drum. 



Another decorated drum is 93211 from Tokio. The shell is gold 

 lacquer with designs of flowers and foliage in raised gold. The outer 

 surface of the heads has a border of black lacquer and the hem on 

 the under side of the heads is gilded. This is held on the right 

 shoulder by the left hand, and struck with the right hand. An im- 

 posing Japanese drum (not numbered) is about 54 inches in diameter 

 and decorated with dragons. 



A notable specimen from India (54070 pi. 24c), was given to 

 President K. B. Hayes in 1879 by Kajah Sourindro Mohun Tagore, 

 founder and president of the Bengal Music School at Calcutta. The 

 shell is built up of staves, cask shaped, and covered with maroon 

 velvet, the ears ornamented with silk tassels. It is a drawing-room 

 instrument and was beaten by the hands. Another interesting drum 

 from India is 92725. The shell is made from a log of wood and is 

 larger in the middle than at the ends. It has two parchment heads 

 tightened by brass rings on lacings of cord. A drum somewhat simi- 

 lar to this is shown with the group of Hindu musicians (pi. 29). 



A peculiar Chinese drum (54045) has a shell which suggests a 

 gigantic dumb-bell. It is 31 inches long and the diameter of the 

 heads is 11 inches. The heads are stretched over hoops made of 

 round iron. Small holes are made in the heads and in each is a brass 

 hook or link by which the heads are laced together. These cords 

 are tightened by means of leather bags or ears. 



No. 55732 is a " side or snare drum for boys." The shell is of bent 

 wood veneered with mahogany. The bolter head is of calfskin and 

 the snare head is of sheepskin. The heads are stretched over flesh 

 hoops with tightening hoops and with lacing of brown linen cord. 

 The heads are made taut by means of leather ears. 



The tallest drum in the entire collection is 95218, which is 85y 2 

 inches high. The shell is largest at the middle of its length and the 

 diameter of one end is more than double that of the other. It is from 

 the French Congo in Africa. On one side is a carved loop handle 



