SARAWAK ETHNOGRAPHICAL COLLECTION. 17 



Class IV. — Cylindrical Harps. 

 (Plate III, fig. 7. Plate VI fig. 14). 



These are made from a joint of a large species of bamboo ; 

 the strings, four to twelve in number, are cut out from the bam- 

 boo but are left attached at their ends and are tightened with 

 slips of wood thrust under them. The septa of the bamboo joint 

 are generally perforated and to increase the resonance of the 

 instrument a longitudinal slit or a hole is cut in it. This class 

 of instrument is in use amongst the Kyans, the Kenyahs, the 

 LongKiputs, the Kadyans, the Dusuns, and the Land-Dyaks. The 

 method of performing on this instrument amongst the Land- 

 Dyaks of the Sadong River is as follows : — 



The performer sits on the ground, rests one end of the 

 instrument against the side of his right foot and the back of it 

 against his left thigh ; the strings are struck with a short stick 

 held in the right hand and with the left hand the player altern- 

 ately opens and closes the upper and open end of the instru- 

 ment ; the strings can be tuned by altering the position of the 

 bridges. Several men usually perform together and a sound 

 like distant gongs can be produced by experts ; other men accom- 

 pany with the lalipok and pelonchong ; the former is a portion of 

 bamboo joint shaved down so that the wall is quite thin, one 

 end is open and is struck against some hard substance; the latter 

 is a piece of bamboo joint with a hole cut in the side and it is 

 struck with a stick (Plate VI fig. 14). The Krokong Land- 

 Dyaks still play on these harps at their festivals, the Sadong 

 Land-Dyaks only occasionally play on them and then not serious- 

 ly, whilst at Quop these instruments are merely toys made and 

 played on by children. 



1. Dusun — Tangkungang. (Plate III, fig. 7, left hand specimen). 



Made from a single joint of bamboo which is cut off flush 

 with the septa so that nothing projects at either end ; both the 

 septa are perforated. There were originally five strings arrang- 

 ed more or less equidistantly round the instrument ; all but two 

 of the strings broken. Total length 51-4 cm. ; diameter, 10*5 



R. A Soc, No. 40, 1904, 1 



