ogul emperor, put an end to the Court music,
which had probably reached a very low level in his day. It was his
custom to assure his people of his safety by showing himself daily to
them at a certain window, and some musicians, thinking to arouse his
sympathy, brought beneath this window a funeral bier, and set up a
doleful wailing. Distracted by the noise, the emperor appeared and
demanded what it all meant? 'Melody is dead,' was the dejected reply,
'and we are taking it to the graveyard.' 'Very good,' answered the
annoyed ruler; 'make the grave so deep that neither voice nor echo may
ever again be heard.' And so Court ceremonials were deprived of music
for the future.

The 'bin,' or 'vina,' may be regarded as the national instrument of
India. Legend says that it was invented by Nareda, the son of Brahma. In
painting and sculpture Nareda is usually represented as playing on this
instrument. One of the old Pali books, written about the time of our
Lord's birth, gives a description of the 'vina,' and the carving of the
most ancient instruments differs little from that of those made at the
present time.

The 'bin' is made of wood, and has seven strings, two of steel, the rest
of silver, and these are plucked by the two first fingers of the
performer, who wears little metal shields made for the purpose. It is
tuned by pegs, and has two gourds suspended below, each usually
measuring about fourteen inches across. These, being of irregular shape
and gaily coloured, give a very picturesque look to the instrument.

Another favourite instrument is the 'kimmori.' This also derives its
sounding powers from gourds, of which three are usually slung from the
tube forming the body. It is said by the natives to have been invented
by one of the singers of the 'Brahma Loka,' or heaven of the Brahmins.
The 'kimmori' is made of a pipe of bamboo or blackwood, with frets or
screws, which should be fashioned of the scales of the pangolin, or
scaly ant-eater, though more often they are made of bone or metal. It
has only two strings, one touching the frets, the other carried above
them. The tail-piece is always carved like the breast of a kite, and the
instrument is frequently found sculptured on ancient temples and
shrines, especially in Mysore, in the south of Hindustan.

In the Old Testament, mention is made of a musical instrument called
kimor, which was probably the same as the kimmori, both being of great
antiquity, and most likely of