8 THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE INCAS. 
no mention of larger ones, so common in many Indian tribes, 
has been found. The Abbé Molina, describing the method of 
curing the sick, says: 
“The Machi directs the women who are present to sing with a 
loud voice a doleful song, accompanied with the sound of some little 
drums, which they beat at the same time.” ! 
Doubtless the heads of these drums were usually made of the skin 
of the deer and other animals common to the country, but this 
was not always the case. The Huancas “flayed the captives 
they took in war, making some of the skins into drums.” 2 
Garcilasso says: 
“They were a sort of fierce and warlike people fleaing those whom 
they took in the wars, the skins of which they filled with ashes and 
hanged them up in the temples for trophies; with the skins of some 
they make drums, being of opinion that the sound of them would 
terrify their enemies.’ 3 
Copper bells, in form resembling our sleigh-bells, appear to 
have been in common use. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of Plate II show 
three, each of which has a pebble in thecavity. Fig. 1 
shows a flattened form, decorated on either side with 
a figure, probably representing the sun. This bell has been 
broken, and the pebble or “‘clapper’’ is missing. Cieza de Leon, 
who is perhaps the most reliable of the contemporaneous writers, 
remarks: 
Bell 
‘“When the chiefs [Guayaquil, Ecuador] were sick, to appease the 
wrath of their gods, and pray for health, they made other sacrifices 
of a superstitious nature; killing men (as I was told), and believing 
that human blood was a grateful offering. In doing these things they 
sounded drums and bells before certain idols shaped like lions and 
tigers, which they worshipped.”’ 4 
In the Museum collection there are three bronze objects, 
circular in outline and slightly concavo-convex, each having a 
t History of Chili, p. 92. 
2 Travels of Cieza de Leon, Ed. Hakluyt, Part I, p. 299. 
3 Royal Commentaries of Peru, Ed. Rycaut, Part I, Book VI, Chap. X. 
4 Travels of Cieza de Leon, Ed. Hakluyt, Part I, p. 203. 
