8 THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE INCAS. 



no mention of larger ones, so common in many Indian tribes, 

 has been found. The Abbe JMoHna, describing the method of 

 curing the sick, says: 



"The Maclii directs the women who are present to sing with a 

 loud voice a doleful song, accompanied with the sound of some little 

 drums, which they beat at the same time." ' 



Doubtless the heads of these drums were usually made of the skin 

 of the deer and other animals common to the country, but this 

 was not always the case. The Huancas "flayed the captives 

 they took in war, making some of the skins into drums." ■ 

 Garcilasso says : 



"They were a sort of fierce and warlike people fleaing those whom 

 they took in the wars, the skins of which they filled with ashes and 

 hanged them up in the temples for trophies; with the skins of some 

 they make drums, being of opinion that the sound of them would 

 terrify their enemies." 3 



Copper bells, in form resembling our sleigh-bells, appear to 

 have been in common use. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of Plate II show 

 three, each of which has a pebble in the cavity. Fig. i 

 shows a flattened form, decorated on either side with 

 a figure, probably representing the sun. This bell has been 

 broken, and the pebble or " clapper" is missing. Cieza de Leon, 

 who is perhaps the most reliable of the contemporaneous writers, 

 remarks : 



"When the chiefs [Guayaciuil, Ecuador] were sick, to appease the 

 wrath of their gods, and pray for health, they made other sacrifices 

 of a superstitious nature; killing men (as I was told), and believing 

 that human blood was a grateful offering. In doing these things they 

 sounded drums and liells Ijefore certain idols shaped like lions and 

 tigers, which they worshipped." ■» 



In the Museum collection there arc three bronze objects, 



circular in outline and slightly concavo-C(.)nvex, each having a 



' History of Chili, p. 02. 



' Travels of Cicza dc Leon, Ed. HakUiyt, Part I, ji. 2()q. 



3 Royal Commontarios of Peru, Ed. Rycaut, Part I, Book VI, Chap. X. 



* Travels of Cieza de Leon, Ed. Hakluyt, Part I, p. 203. 



