Op THE HlJ^DUS. 465 



This may possibly explain the piincipJe of the con- 

 struction of the ShacJju Grama of the Hindus • and there 

 is a similar instrument still in use, called Dwilantri, 

 which I have often seen and heard ; and, as far as I re- 

 member, it is tuned in fifths. It consists of a wooden 

 body, hollowed out and covered with parchment ; it has 

 a neck and two strings, and is struck with a plectrum. 



The Madhyama Grama is evidently our major mode ^ 

 and, if I am right, that of Gundhnra is our minor mode. 



The extent of the Hindu scale is three Septacas -, 

 which are thus fancifully described : the lowest or first 

 Sepiaca^ called Mundra sthana, is derived or produced 

 from the navel, extending upwards to the chest; the 

 second Madhyasthdna, from the chest to the throat ; 

 the third Tarasthana, from the throat to the brain. 



The scale is deriominatcd Grama, (literally village,) 

 because there is in it the assemblage of all the notes,, 

 S'r litis and Mnrclihands^ arranged in their proper places, 

 as mankind assemble in towns and villages, and therA 

 assume their different degrees and stations. 



In considering the names given to the three Gramas^ 

 it appears to me, that the Shadja Grama takes its name 

 from ihe lowest note in that scale, as being the founda- 

 tion of the first Tcirac/jord ; the second Tetrachord 

 being apparently formed f;-oni the first by fifths: in' 

 which case thcOih must necessarily be more acufexhsin 

 in the Diatonic scale; and the interval between the 5th 

 and 6th is therefore represented by four S'rutis tb sig- 

 nify, that /)//^z bears the same proportion to Fa, xh-xtlii 



Vol. IX. 2 H 



