﻿OF THE PEOPLE OF CEYLON'. 437 



of it to distraction. They consecrate it to the tem- 

 ples and to the kin<^. Its name is Hoveneve. Their 

 horn, called Kombox'c, is as unpleasant as the for- 

 mer. They have a kind of haiithoy that is not quite 

 as insupportable as their other instruments, and 

 which rtiight, perhaps, in the hands of an. able 

 player, be made to give some pleasing- tones ; it is 

 termed Nalave. Th^y have four species of drums. 

 The first Daoul is long and narrow. They beat it 

 with a curved stick, called Daoul Kadipoue, and 

 use only their left hand to it. The Tammetcnn is a 

 kind of kettle covered with a skin on the top, and 

 beat V. ith an instrument called Kaddipozv. The Pk.a- 

 bani is nearly similar to our timbrel; but it has no 

 bells. They slide the fingers of the right hand on it^ 

 and hold it with the left: women play on it also. 

 They place it on the ground, and three or four to- 

 gether beat it in time for many hours together, 

 without being in time. The Odikie is the best of all 

 their drums, and is certainly capable of producing a 

 good effect in a piece of music. It is very nariow 

 considering its length. The two extremities of it 

 are tied b}^ catgut strings to the belt, on M'hich the 

 instrument hangs; this belt goes over the shoulder. 

 They squeeze the drum occasionally with the left 

 elbow, and strike it with their right hand. The 

 pressure on the instrument, by stretching it more or 

 less, makes it produce different tones. The Tarn- 

 metam is used in the feasts of the great, and always 

 precedes them in their journeys. It is a necessary 

 part of the music to be played before the temple 

 morning and evening. In fine, it is an essentially 

 necessary instrument upon all occasions that attract 

 the attention and consideration of the public. The 

 Rabani is more adapted for the feasts of friend:^ ; the 

 Daoul is used at all times. But the Odiliie is the 

 instrument of the men of taste. A player on it is, 

 consequently, paid more liberally than those on tlie 

 Daoul or Tammetam. 



2 F 3 The 



