128 DR TRAILL ON A PERUVIAN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 
That it had been introduced into America, the instrument before you fully 
proves; and voyagers have discovered a musical instrument very like it in Am- 
sterdam Island, or Tongataboo, in the Pacific Ocean. In a letter which I received 
from the illustrious Humsotprt on this subject, he states, that he had found a rude 
sort of Pan’s pipe among the natives on the banks of the Orinoco.—‘ II est bien 
remarquable de vois les mémes formes se reproduire dans les regions les plus 
eloignées; j'avais deja été frappé de adresse avec laquelle les indigenes de YOri- 
noque savoient construire ses flutes de Pan, chaque fois que mes canots s’arréte- 
ment 1a, ot le rivage etoit couvert de roseaux.” 
Scale of the Instrument. 
The first attempts at obtaining an idea of the scale of the Peruvian instru- 
ment were imperfect, owing to my little skill in either the theory or practice of 
music. By means of Broapwoon’s C tuning-fork for concert pitch, compared to 
a piano, I discovered that the lowest note in the Peruvian syrinx was equivalent 
to E on the first line, and that the next three notes with that formed a tetrachord 
nearly corresponding to E, F, G, A; that the fifth ascending note was three notes 
higher than A, or equalled D; that the sixth note was a note /ower than the pre- 
ceding; that the seventh was two notes higher than D; and that the eighth was 
four notes higher than D. 
These notes, however, differing from the piano by half a tone, it occurred to 
me, that, by obtaining the assistance of an accomplished musician on the violin- 
cello, the true scale might be ascertained far better than by my unskilful attempts. 
I employed an expert Italian performer on the organetto to play on the Peruvian 
instrument, on different evenings, and I was fortunate enough to obtain the 
assistance of three musical friends, who unite to fine taste great practical skill in 
music ; and to the aid of these gentlemen I am indebted for the following deter- 
mination of the true scale and powers of the Peruvian syrinx. 
The violincello was tuned to the pitch of the Peruvian instrument, and the 
value of each of its notes was repeatedly tried by this test. The result of these 
experiments convinced my musical friends, that the maker of that instrument 
had proceeded on just musical principles in its formation ; and that its eight notes 
were resolvable into two distinct tetrachords, one of which is in a minor, and the 
other in a major key. 
When the ventilages are all shut, the following is the 







Scale. 
e @ e e 
“g: 
ee ee 
: t =e a2 
. Se = ! 
E ¥ G A D Cc Fr A 
ee eee ee ee ee 
nts come Dsl patenctinees 
