6 
FASCICULI MALATENSES 
Perak and in Trang all the actors, musicians, and other public entertainers come 
from Kedah, bringing their more elaborate instruments with them.’ 
13. Jew's-harp. Malay name, rfy : Siamese name, 
Ban Sai Kau, Nawngchik (PL XXI, Fig. 8). 
Made of bamboo in one piece, four and a quarter inches long. The 
vibrating tongue is wide towards the attached end, suddenly narrowing towards 
the free vibrating end, thickened at the shoulders to add weight and increase 
the oscillation. The frame follows the outline of the tongue. At the distal 
end is fixed a plait of coloured threads, by which it is held ; at the proximal 
end the frame terminates in a small spur, to which is attached the jerking- 
string, which ends in a long, slender wooden toggle. In playing, the instrument 
is held to the mouth, with the left hand holding the distal end ; the string is 
jerked with the right hand, and this causes the tongue to vibrate, the notes 
being varied by altering the resonant cavity of the mouth. Jew's-harps of 
bamboo have a wide range in Eastern Asia, as far north as the Ainu of Yezo., and 
eastwards through the Malayan Archipelago to the Pacific, where they occur 
in many of the island groups. 
1 1 have seen them among the Semangs of Upper Perak/ 
14. Jew's-harp. Kam pong Jalor, Jalor (PJ. XXI, Fig. 9). 
Similar to No. 13, but of rougher make, four and three quarter inches 
long, with a strip of cloth and palm leaf at the distal end. The jerking-string 
is fastened through a small hole at the wide end of the frame, and ends in a 
small wooden toggle. A lump of wax is fixed to this end of the frame. 
15 and 16. Two Jew's-harps similar to No. 14. Kampong Jalor and 
Ban Sai Kau, five and three-eighths and five and one-eighth inches long. In 
one the toggle is of porcupine’s quill (Robinson coll.) 
17. Jew's-harp. Samsam name, g&tggVng* Ban Pra Muang, Trang 
(PL XXI, Fig. to). 
Well and stoutly made of palm wood, five and five-eighths inches long, 
and half-an-inch wide. The shape as in those of bamboo, but deeper and 
with the weighted portion of the tongue correspondingly deep. A long strip of 
cotton cloth is attached to the flattened distal end of the frame, Jerking-string 
attached to small knob, and ending in a carved wooden toggle. This form is 
doubtless derived from the bamboo form. 
‘This instrument was probably made by a Samsam. Bamboo is not so 
common in the coast districts of Trang as it is in most parts of the Patani 
States/ 
i, 
18. Jew's-harp. Siamese. State of Trang. 
Made of iron, long and narrow in outline ; frame two and three-eighths 
