MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 251 



backs of the fingers are slightly raised so as to 

 touch the wire a different note can be made. 

 An instrument somewhat like this is described 

 in my husband's " Angola and the River Congo," 

 vol. i., p. 139. 



Another is still more simple, consisting of a 

 piece of cane about two feet long, and only 

 slightly bowed by a string of twisted horsehair, 

 a few rude holes being cut inside the bow for 

 about half its length. This instrument is played 

 by the lips being pressed against the horsehair 

 and cane over the holes, and then tapping or 

 picking at the horsehair with the finger-tips or 

 nails ; the note thus formed - is high or low 

 according to which hole the lips are over, the 

 lowest sound being at the extreme end of the 

 bow. No particular melody is ever played 

 on either of these instruments, which become 

 very monotonous after being heard daily and 

 hourly, for the Kafir is so fond of his tune 

 that he always likes to keep his instrument 

 handy to take up whenever he has a moment's 

 leisure. 



