OCCASIONAL NOTES. 4.23 
Full scores of the Orchestral music of Oriental nations are 
absolutely wanting. 
At Cochin on the Malabar coast, the most interesting re- 
sults might be deduced from a comparison of the Sacred music 
of the White and Black Jews resident there. 
The Sacred music of the Thibetan Buddhists, with their 
double choirs and antiphonal method of singing, forms an- 
other subject of great importance. 
It is a well-known fact, that the more civilised Asiatic 
nations possess treatises on music. Oriental scholars mention 
several of the Hindus. Amuior gives a list of about seventy 
by Chinese authors; and it may be supposed that the Japanese 
are in this subject not behind the Chinese. 
Further, an acquaintance with the musical instruments of 
different nations, is of great importance in the study of 
National music, since the peculiar construction of the instru- 
ments enables us in many instances to ascertain with accuracy 
the characteristic order of intervals, modulations, embellish- 
ments and other such distinctive features prevailing in the 
music of a nation. 
An appeal therefore is made to all musicians, both Euro- 
pean and Orientals, to assist in collecting the facts required ; 
and to all those who are not musicians, that they, by their 
rank, or official position, may afford to the musical collectors, 
opportunities for access to music they would not ordinarily 
hear, and to musicians with whom they would not ordinarily 
meet; and also that by collecting and presenting to the 
University, treatises on, and manuscripts of, the music: an 
exhaustive and complete collection of the musical instru- 
ments, of the country in which they reside, that may further 
the advancement of that branch of learning. 
In conclusion, I would add a few cautions to the would-be 
collector, in addition to those noted on the circulars. 
All the music should be written down as gathered from the 
mouths of the singers, or from the instruments performed on, 
without any additions, and in any doubtful or peculiar pas- 
