109 



central or southern India, it is the business of one or more of the watch- 

 men to blow the horn at sunset, and again at certain hours during the 

 night, or when the watchmen go their stated rounds. In large cities 

 every mahulla or ward has a horn blower attached to its night watchmen 

 or police ; ' and there is seldom a guard or detachment of native irre- 

 gular troops without one. In all processions, temple services, and 

 especially at marriages and other festive occasions, this horn is indis- 

 pensable; and wailing blasts for the dead are played upon it at 

 the funerals of Hindus of the lower classes and castes, or equally so at 

 the cremations of Hindu princes. 



No native authority traverses the country without one, frequently 

 several, in his train ; and as towns or villages are approached, the great 

 man's advent is heralded by nourishes of the instrument, blown by the 

 performer, who struts at the head of the cavalcade. These blasts are 

 answered by others from the town or village gate, whence the local au- 

 thorities come out to meet the visitor and present their offerings of 

 welcome. On these occasions, the horn blowers on both sides vie with 

 each other in producing their grandest effects, and the discordance is ge- 

 nerally indescribable. 



Itinerant mendicants of many classes use this instrument, both Hindu 

 and Mahomedan ; and by the men in charge of droves of cattle carrying 

 grain or merchandize, such as Brinjarees, Comptees, and others, it is 

 sounded at intervals along the road to cheer up their bullocks and keep 

 them from straggling, as well as at their departure from or arrival at 

 one of their stages. 



In tone a good Seeng, or horn, is not unlike a common bugle, but has 

 much more power, and in the hands of a good player much more com- 

 pass. In playing the high notes in many of the calls, shrill quivering 

 cadences are produced, which have a startling and peculiarly wild effect 

 as heard from the walls of some ancient fortress, or from village towers 

 and gates as night falls, and more especially in the otherwise unbroken 

 stillness of night. 



I have never heard tunes played or attempted by native horn-blowers, 

 though the modulations of the tones of the instrument are frequently 

 sweet and pleasing ; nor are they used in concert with other music, but 

 always independently, as I have already explained. There can be no 

 doubt, I think, that this kind of horn is of very ancient origin and use ; 

 and I observe in the Museum of the Academy one ancient Irish or Celtic 

 instrument, if not indeed others, identical with the Indian seeng, and 

 which, like it, were most probably used in battle, or for the purposes 

 already detailed. In shape, in the peculiar adaptation of their joints, 

 and in the form of the mouth-piece, they are identical. 



8 - WfTPt (Tootooree). — Small Trumpet. 



Used chiefly in religious music at temples, and in other religious 

 ceremonies. It always accompanies the next in order, and may be 



