ort. The chief is
a very important person, and has great power over his inferiors. Every
member of the Guild is bound to work at some trade beside music, and to
turn over all his earnings to the Treasurer.

Like music itself, this Japanese method of providing for the blind has a
mythological origin. Teki, a favourite prince, was killed in battle, it
is said, whilst fighting Joritomo, the Japanese god of war. His general
was taken prisoner at the same time, and his captor treated him so well
and kindly that, unwilling to seem ungrateful, and yet unable to endure
the sight of the hand which had killed his beloved master, he put out
his own eyes, and presented them to Joritomo, who, delighted with such
courage and affection, set him at liberty. We, having heard and read
both of the magnificent bravery of the Japanese soldiers in the late war
as well as of their noble and humane treatment of their prisoners, may
see in this story a proof that these virtues are hereditary and
instinctive in the race. Returning to his own province the blind general
sought for new worlds to conquer. He turned musician, and gathered a
large following of persons similarly afflicted, finally forming them
into a Society of Blind Musicians, and giving it the name of 'Teki,' his
dead master.

[Illustration: The Sho.]

The instrument called Sho is blown with the mouth, and corresponds to
the Chinese Cheng or Mouth Organ. The pipes are made of wood, with reed
mouthpieces, and the notes are made by stopping the holes with the
fingers. In some ways the construction is like that of a harmonium, but
it is much more troublesome to play, and the performer, having to use
his own breath to make the sounds, cannot sing at the same time. Unlike
a harmonium also, it is difficult to keep in tune, and Miss Bird, a
well-known traveller, tells of a concert at which the performer was
obliged to be continually warming his instrument at a brazier of coals
placed near. Some years ago a Japanese Commission was appointed to
consider which of the national instruments were most suitable for use
in schools; it rejected the Sho because its manufacture was troublesome
and its tuning even worse.

[Illustration: The Kou.]

Kou is the Chinese word for drum, of which many kinds are used in China,
Japan, and Burmah. Eastern drums differ from those of Europe in having
their heads nailed on, not kept movable as ours are for tuning purposes.
The body is usually made of sandalwoo