1837.] Mechanical Instruments of the Nepalese. 955 



any thing like harmony. It is rudely manufactured, and costs about 

 three and a half Nepalese rupees. 



No. 4. — The Nag-pheni, or Turi, a Parbuttiah instrument exclusive- 

 ly. It is only different from the last in being of smaller size and 

 having three vertical turns in its shaft, like a French-horn. Its noise, 

 for music it scarce produces, is any thing but harmonious. It is made 

 of sheet copper, tinned over, and costs one rupee eight anas. 



No. 5. — The Bansuli, " or rural flute" of Sir W. Jones. It is much 

 more like the common English fife in its tones, and is identical with 

 it in form ; is used by the Newars and Parbuttiahs. 



No. 6. — The Saringi. This is the same as the instrument of that 

 name used in India, and represents our European violin, in so far as 

 it is stringed and scraped upon, with a horse-hair bow, but it is at 

 best a miserable instrument. In Nepal it is only played on by the 

 lowest caste Parbuttiahs, and by beggar boys, from among whom I 

 have not seen or heard of any Pagamnis. The dancing girls imported 

 from Benares annually for the amusement of the durbar, have their 

 accompanying fiddlers ; but these being foreigners, are not alluded to 

 here. 



No. 7. — The Sitar, or three-stringed guitar of India, is used by a 

 very few persons in Nepal, whose proficiency is most wretched. Profes- 

 sors of this instrument from the plains of India find some encourage- 

 ment from the Goorkhas, — at least an occasional performer of tolerable 

 skill may be heard at their court. 



No. 8. — Cymbals of various size, from that of a teacup, to the di- 

 mensions of a wash-hand basin, are used by the Newars and Parbut- 

 tiahs, to the same extent as in Hindustan ; all religious ceremonies re- 

 quiring music, all Jattras, or processions of the gods, as well as of mar- 

 rying, and feasting mortals, are accompanied by the discordant noise 

 of these untuned instruments. They are made of mixed metals, the 

 chief of which is denominated Phulia, and is composed of zinc, cop- 

 per, and tin, in various proportions, according to the tone intended 

 for the cymbal. 



No. 9. — Murilli of the Parbuttiahs, Beaugh of the Newars, is a 

 small clarionet, about nine inches long, with eight stops, made of a 

 single piece of bambu, the mouth-piece being formed by blocking 

 up one end of the canal with a bit of wood, except a small slit through 

 which the air is breathed. The tone of this instrument is sweet, and 

 the airs played on it pleasing and plaintive. It costs about eight 

 anas. 



No. 10. — Dhol (drum). The same as the Hindustani one, ex- 

 cept in the greater length of barrel, in one of the varieties. 



