Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/169

 JAVANESE ORCHESTRA. 153

consisting of tjjirt}' men playing different instru- ments, and composing what they call their full Gamalan band. This was the first complete native nuisical corps we. had yet seen, and some of the instruments were quite new to us. One ponderous- looking affair, like a rude violoncello, was about four feet long, with an oval back the finger- board, tail-]>iece, and pegs being of i^'ory. A very diminutive piece of wood, placed close to the finger- board, served as the bridge. Two wires composing the strings, on being tightly drawn, produced soiuuls far from pleasing. There was anothei" curiosity in the sha])e of an enormous gong, so large that anyone could have used it comfortably for a bath, l^he (ianialan I have before described the (^dv difference between those used liiTe and the ones we hud ])re\ii)nsly seen being in their size. This in- strnnieiit. when heard close at h;ind, is (h-afeninir and noisy, tliougli never so unmusical as the Chinese gong; at a distance, it lias a sweet lulling

�� �