Chap. XVI. MUSICIANS AND MUSICAL INSTKUMENTS. 293 
covered with a bit of spider’s web: the ends afe covered with the 
skin of an antelope pegged on; and when they wish to tighten 
it they hold it to the fire to make it contract: the instruments 
are beaten with the hands. 
The Marimba, or Musical Instrument of the Balonda. 
The piano, named ‘‘ marimba,” consists of two bars of wood 
placed side by side, here quite straight, but, farther north, bent 
round so as to resemble half the tme of a carriage-wheel; across 
these are placed about fifteen wooden keys, each of which is two 
or tliree inches broad, and fifteen or eighteen inches long; their 
thickness is regulated according to the deepness of the note 
required: each of the keys has a calabash beneath it; from the 
upper part of each, a portion is cut off to enable them to embrace 
the bars, and form hollow sounding-boards to the keys, which 
also are of different sizes, according to the note required; and 
little drumsticks elicit the music. Rapidity of execution seems 
much admired among them, and the music is pleasant to the 
ear. In Angola the Portuguese use the marimba in their 
dances. 
When nine speakers had concluded their orations, Shinte 
stood up, and so did all the people. He had maintained true 
