194 SEC. 6. SOUKD. 



other at the side. The latter is covered with a delicate film, to promote 

 the sonorousness. Several African travellers have noticed this curious 

 acoustic contrivance. Du Chaillu says that the film consists of the skin of a 

 spider ; Livingstone mentions spiders' web being applied to instruments of 

 this kind used by certain native tribes in Southern Africa. The marimba is 

 a favourite instrument of the negroes as well as of the Kafirs. 



752. Glass Harmonica. Modern. Made by E. Pohl, in 

 Bohemia. South Kensington Museum. 



The glass harmonica consists of a series of glass bells, which are affixed in 

 regular order to an iron spindle lying horizontally in a case, and which by 

 simple machinery are set in motion by the feet. The sound is produced by 

 the performer moistening his fingers and pressing them on the bells while 

 these are rotating. 



753. Sol-Pa Harmonicon, invented by Miss Glover. In- 

 tended as an assistance in learning singing, and the theory of 

 music. South Kensington Museum. 



754. Organ Pipes, a selection in illustration of their manu- 

 facture, showing the middle C pipe of each stop. H. Speechly. 



755. Chromatic Harmonium, peculiarly constructed key- 

 board, " showing the twenty-four progressions. The common 

 method is seen at the back of the instrument in connexion with the 

 keys." Mrs. Read. 



756. Chromatic Pianoforte, peculiarly constructed key- 

 board, in which the keys are distinguished by different colours. 

 Intended to facilitate the playing in the different major and minor 

 keys. Mrs. Read. 



757. Models of several Ancient Egyptian Pipes, the 



originals of which are in the Egyptian Museum at Turin or in the 

 British Museum. Those from Turin are copied in brass, and 

 those from the British Museum in cane. 



W. Chappell, F.S.A. 



The original pipes were found in Egyptian tombs, some examples being as 

 old as the fourth or fifth dynasty of Egypt. They were played upon by 

 means of a cut, or split, piece of reed, or of straw, inserted in the end, as was 

 usual with ancient shepherds' pipes, and much in the manner of the modern 

 hautboy, or bagpipe, reeds. Parts of the ancient reed or straw remain within 

 one of the pipes in the British Museum, and another at Turin. Usually a 

 fresh long piece of reed or straw was laid in the tomb by the side of the pipe, 

 and it may be assumed that the object was to supply the dead man with a 

 stock of those perishable inciters of tone, in order that he might play con- 

 tinuously upon his pipe when he awoke. Examples of the straws or reeds, so 

 deposited, are included in the Museum at Leyden and in the British Museum. 



The pipes selected for copying were those which varied in length and in the 

 number of finger holes, so as to obtain varieties of pitch, and varieties of the 

 prehistoric scales. Through the kind assistance of Dr. W. H. Stone, himself 

 an accomplished player upon reed instruments, the following have been 

 ascertained. 



