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5. TJT (Guntt). — Bell. 



As a musical instrument, the bell is used somewhat in the same 

 manner as the cymbals before mentioned, but more rarely. No ceremony 

 of sacrifice or oblation, however, is ever performed without preliminary 

 tinkling of the bell, which is repeated at certain intervals according to 

 the ritual. No set of sacrificial utensils is complete without one. To 

 describe the use of the hand bell at particular periods of ceremonial ob- 

 servance, would lead me into digressions which have no reference to the 

 subject in hand ; but there can be no doubt that the practice of using 

 it is as ancient as Hinduism itself, and the rituals, liturgies, and works 

 on ceremonial observances, define the use to be made of it. By Maho- 

 medans, the use of the bell in any form that I am aware of is unknown. 



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6. Tv^a s3^j (Groongooroo). — Ankle Bells. 



These strings of small bells are used by all dancers, male or female, 

 Hindu or Mahomedan. They are tied round the leg, above the ankle, 

 and produce a faint clashing sound as the feet move in steps, which 

 mingles, not unmusically, with the dance music, or songs which accom- 

 pany the dance ; and they not only serve to mark the time, but to keep 

 the dancer or singer in perfect time and accord with the musicians. 

 These bells are the symbols of their profession with all dancers and 

 singers, and to some extent are held sacred. ]STo dancer ties them on 

 his or her ankles before performance, without touching his or her fore- 

 head and eyes with them, and saying a short prayer or invocation to a 

 patron saint or divinity, Hindu or Mahomedan. Nor is it possible, after 

 a female singer or dancer has once been invested with them, — a cere- 

 mony which is very solemnly performed, and attended with much cost, 

 — to abandon the professional life so adopted. He or she "has tied on 

 the bells," is even a proverb, to signify that the person alluded to has 

 devoted himself or herself to a purpose from which it is impossible to 

 recede. Strings of these small bells are also used for horses, and tied round 

 the fetlocks of prancing chargers with gay tinsel ribbons or pieces of 

 cloth, also round the necks of lapdogs, and some of a large size round 

 those of a favourite plough or cart bullock. The latter are identical 

 with sleigh bells. No post runner in India travels without a string of 

 them tied on the end of his pole on which is slung the leather bag he 

 carries ; and on a still night their clashing sound, besides being heard 

 at a great distance, serves to scare away wild beasts, and to cheer the 

 runner on his lonely path. 



7. ^tPl (Seeng).—Kom. 



Used universally through India for signals, watch setting, proces- 

 sions, and the like, both by Mahomedans and Hindus, though the per- 

 formers, for the most part, are Hindus of low easte. In every village of 



