590 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [December, 1910. 



The Jew's harp described here and figured in the annexed 

 plate, was obtained from the Hua-Lisu of the Ku-yung-kai area, 

 in the Teng-yueh district, Yunnan, but the same type of harp 

 is prevalent among the other branches of the tribe. It consists 

 of three separate harps of different tone cut from single pieces 

 of hard bamboo. These are 11/2 cms. long, each one being 

 made up of 



(a) a solid piece 4 5 cms. long. 



(b) the part containing the vibrating tongue, which is 



cut away so as to form a broad V-shaped section, 

 and which is 1*6 cms. lon^r. 



(c) the part containing the movable central piece which 



carries the vibrating tongue and which is 3*5 cms. 

 long. This part is cut away for more than half 

 its thickness for a length of 2 2 cms. 



(d) the solid piece which connects the vibrating tongue 



and movable central bar, with the projecting spur 

 by means of which the vibrations are set up. 

 This is *4 cms. long. 



(e) the projecting spur 12 cms. long. 



The width of the instrument is '55 cms. and its thickness 

 '15 cms. The projecting spur is rounded off so as to facilitate 

 movement with the fingers. The central movable bar is ap- 

 proximately -2 cms. wide and projects slightly into the V- 

 shaped section carrying the vibrating tongue, where it is cut 

 away to the thickness of the tongue. The latter is not more 

 than '05 cms. in width or thickness. Owing to its fragility, 

 the instrument is invariably carried in a case made from a thin 

 piece of bamboo, closed at one end, and furnished with a small 

 pad of cloth by which the other end can be shut. This bamboo 

 case also contains a hole through which is passed a string for 

 hanging it from the coat or round the neck. Neither the harp 

 nor case bear any trace of ornamentation. 



In comparison with the Jew's harps from Assam and 



Burma 



WiJlifer 



crudely made and roughly finished, the Lisu instru- 

 ment is smaller, and of far more delicate workmanship, 

 demanding considerable skill in the use of the knife for its 

 manufacture. It approaches more in shape and size those 

 forms collected by Dr. Annandale in the Siamese Malay States. 



In playing, the three harps are held in position in one 

 vertical plane, between the thumb and first finger of the left 

 hand, or between the first and second fingers. The moutn 

 being opened, the harps are gripped lightly by the lips and the 

 vibrating tongues are made to give out sound singly, or in 



Burm 



wn, Mems. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 



