236 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, [ April, 1908. 
illustrated shows traces of ornamentation ateach end. A simple 
ut effective pattern is forme a ME accurately crossed lines. which 
are ea with a dark stai 
ikir faateandal 4 is s played by females, but boys also 
‘idalee. ees args especially the unmarried | ads s, who play it 
in the evening, some as a relaxation in the intervals of work, 
others at bed- Find. 
4, The Garos, whose home is in the hills which bear their 
name, make a harp very much like that in use among the Mikirs. 
It is a double instrument, each one being about five inches in 
lerigth, 
The specimen shown was sina by a Garo boy and is the 
kind commonly used: Both old and young men play it. When 
asked if the Christians played it, the lad answered, ‘ me not that 
it is considered bad, but they have not the wish to use it.” Pro- 
bably further investigation would reveal a deeper reason why it 
is not ee by Christian Garos. 
e Kachins, who are also called in Burma Chingpaw, 
and in Ait pris ont ond eho live to the extreme east of Assam 
and north-west o adepts at playing this instrument 
The specimen Soin seg as obtained ina, is 
slightly more elaborate than those above described. It measures 
six inches and is made, as all are, of a seri of bamboo, but with 
the addition of a double splice. A ntly it is the only 
variety made, and is a very popular Rate among the wild 
Kachins. 
All love passages are conducted with this as the chief musi- 
cal instrument, and it is universally used by the young men in 
serenading girls, 
he missionaries have found it necessary to prohibit the use 
of it among the school children on the Mission compound. When- 
ever a young fellow is caught somewhere near the girls’ dormi- 
tory discoursing sweet music on his harp, he is called to order, 
ean 
e most elaborately made and eet couulng. harps have 
been obtained from the Sadiya district of Ass hey are in 
every way an alder on the primitive instrum i above des- 
cribed. One ures nine inches and the other a inches “The e 
with heathen songs and festivals. The probability is that the 
reason above stated for prohibition in other places is the real one 
in this case also. 
It would be interesting to extend the enquiry as to the distri- 
bution of the Jew’s harp in India further than has been possible 
in this preliminary paper, 
