Life at Banza Nokki. 
22 7 
the modes of the Greeks, which are still preserved 
by the Hindoos, they have an original music, deal¬ 
ing in harmony rather than in tune, and there'are 
motives, of course all in the minor key, which 
might be utilized by advanced peoples ; these sons 
of nature would especially supply material for that 
recitative which Verdi first made something better 
than a vehicle for dialogue. Hence the old mis¬ 
sioned are divided in opinion ; whilst some find 
the sound of the “ little guitar,” with strings of 
palm-thread and played with the thumbs of both 
hands, “ very low, but not ungrateful,” others 
speak of the “ hellish harmony” of their neophytes’ 
bands. The instrument alluded to is the nsambi or 
nchambi; four strings are attached to bent sticks 
springing from the box ; it is the wambi of the 
Shekyanis (Du Chaillu, chap, xii), but the bridge, 
like that of our violin, gives it an evident supe¬ 
riority, and great care and labour are required in 
the maker. 
This form of the universal marimba is a sound¬ 
ing-board of light wood, measuring eight inches by 
five ; some eight to eleven iron keys, flat strips of 
thin metal, pass over an upright bamboo bridge, 
fixed by thongs to the body, and rest at the further 
end upon a piece of skin which prevents “ twang¬ 
ing.” The tocador or performer brings out soft 
and pleasing tones with the sides of the thumbs 
and fingers. They have drums and the bell-like 
