CHAP. III.] 



STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. 



151 



We shall only mention here modern stringed and bow instruments 

 used in Europe. Formerly, the instruments of the violin family 

 were more numerous and of great variety. Viols generally had six 

 strings, bass-viols seven, and the viola de Bardone of the Italians had 



FIG. 103. Persian musicians. Violin and tambourine. 



no less than forty-four strings, but evidently all these strings could 

 not be touched by the bow. The greater number of these strings 



tried intense string sounds. upon a clean fir sound-board, and noticed how the dust 

 was absolutely sucked in. Blackening the planks to their centre, this excessive 

 action would amount to dislocation rather than displacement of fibre, and account 

 for the fact which you justly notice. J. B. II. 



