VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA 153 



sides were quite straig-ht. The performer hit these pieces of 

 wood with two club-shaped wooden sticks, which were covered 

 with Hnen on the part which touched the bamboo, and the 

 effect produced was that of chimes ; there was no clattering- 

 noise, as the two wooden sticks with which he placed were 

 covered with linen. 



Another kind of chimes was produced by an instrument 

 which consisted of an oblong- ring- composed of thin split bamboo 

 sticks. Its outer circumference was four and half feet ; it was 

 three feet wide and more than half a foot hig-h. The width of the 

 ring- proper was more than half a foot and it was a g-ood hand 

 hig'h. It consisted of bamboo sticks of one fing-er s width, w^iich 

 were tied tog-ether in such manner, that the surface had only a 

 few cross-sticks. However the little sticks, placed perpendicularly 

 were sometimes so much long-er that the ring was lifted from the 

 ground and was about one foot high. 



Between these last mentioned sticks fourteen brass lattens 

 were fastened, resting horizontally on strings in such a manner 

 that they neither touched the bamboo sticks at the side nor one 

 another, but they could be moved in all different directions and 

 their number filled the whole ring. Each of these lattens is 

 convex at the edge, and concave at the other side, but in the 

 middle they bulge out and are about an inch higher forming' a 

 rounded sort of surface, this raised place is two inches in diameter. 

 The thickness of the metal is between 2 and 3 lines ; they vary a 

 little in size, according to the tone which they are to produce. 

 The performer sits in the Liiddle of this ring on his feet, after the 

 oriental fashion, and with a little stick, about one foot in leng^th 

 and as thick as a little finger, widening at the end to the shape 

 of a ball 1 J inch thick and covered, he hits the fourteen lattens 

 which almost .surround him. Sometimes he touches the edge, 

 sometimes the middle, according to what strength he wishes to 

 produce, and all this is done with wonderful quickness. 



The male and female dancers wear a heroic sort of costume. 

 They have crowns on their heads, which are about two fingers 

 wide at the lower edge, and have unequal branches, those in 

 front being the highest. They wear a sort of wingshaped 

 ornament for their ears, which is almost as hig-h as their head, 

 and both the crown and this ornament are gilt. The hair is tied , 

 behind and parted in the middle. ,. 



