HANDBOOK OF THE COLLECTION OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 89 



designate instruments with differences from these types as "loud 

 toned," " beautiful toned," or " colorful " vinas. 



Vinas with fretted finger board, designated as the first type, are 

 d liferent in northern and southern India. The vina used in north- 

 ern India (92681, pi. 38&) has two gourd bodies attached by short 

 wooden posts to a horizontal, straight, hollow bar of wood. In 

 the bottom of each gourd is a round opening, and at the lower end 

 of the bar or neck is a carved representation of a peacock. The in- 

 strument has seven strings, two of which are attached to timing pegs 

 at the side of the neck. It has 16 adjustable frets tied to the neck 

 with gut strings and giving semitone intervals. The bridge is a low 

 block of bone or ivory and the nut is similar material having the 

 outline of an elephant's head at one end and that of a peacock at the 

 other. Four of the strings are steel and three are of brass. When 

 in use the gourd with the tuning pegs rests on the left shoulder of 

 the player and the other gourd rests on his right knee. The strings 

 are stopped with the left hand and struck with the right hand, the 

 two first fingers of which are armed with wire plectra. This instru- 

 ment is difficult to play, but its sound in the hands of a skillful per- 

 former is said to resemble that of a piano, but with greater delicacy. 



The vina used in southern India has a pear-shaped resonator 

 carved from wood, instead of a gourd. The opening below the 

 strings is covered with tightly stretched parchment. Sometimes a 

 globular wooden resonator is added near the upper end of the finger 

 board. The number of strings is the same as in the vina with the 

 two resonators, but the system of tuning is much simpler. The 

 instrument is taught in the schools in many places and is a favorite 

 with amateurs of the higher classes. It is always played with the 

 finger nails. The strings are made by a process kept secret in a 

 particular caste. 



The second class of vina, known as tumbara, is represented by 

 54069 (pi. 38a). Comparison with the other vina will show that 

 it lacks frets on the finger board and that the tuning pegs are 

 placed differently, those of the first and second strings being placed 

 on opposite sides ; it also differs in having no short strings attached 

 half way up the neck. The bridge (absent in the specimen) is mov- 

 able and has no metal in its fittings. The body of this instrument 

 is painted green and powdered with gilt stenciled flowers, the belly 

 and neck are covered with cloth of silver. It is always held upright 

 when played, the body resting on the ground. The tone is slightly 

 buzzing, and to produce this effect bits of quill or silk are placed 

 between the bridge and strings. It is used only for accompani- 

 ments. 



The third chiss of vina, known as the " setar," is perhaps the 

 commonest of all the stringed instruments of India and is fairly 



