Another instrument, a descendant of the Greek _psalterion_ and known to have been in Russia since the 9th century, is the _gusslee_. It is something like a zither, and is composed of a hollow box, strung with any number from seven to thirteen up to twenty-four strings. It is held on the lap, and the strings are plucked with the fingers. There is also a sort of lute or _bandoura_ with many strings, dating from the 16th century, played principally by the blind who belong to groups of minstrels. There is also a wooden clarinet, on which one scale can be played. Its special purpose was for use at funerals, and its name, which comes from a word meaning tomb, is _jaleika_. FINNISH SONGS The Finns, a northern people, although often dominated either by Sweden or Russia, have their own songs and peculiar rhythms. The _Kalevala_ is their great epic poem, like the _Iliad_ of Greece, _Beowulf_ of the Anglo-Saxons, and the _Eddas_ of Iceland. From this narrative poem or epic, have come many a folk-tune. Besides, they sing of their beautiful country, often called the country of lakes. The typical rhythm of Finland is the ⁵⁄₄ time which sounds most attractive. They have the _kantele_, a plucked string instrument, and they glory in their folk music which they use as an everyday joy and do not “turn it on” only for “hey-days and holidays.” POLAND’S MUSIC The Polish people have loved music as the Russians love it, and although Poland has been reconquered, divided and redivided among the surrounding kingdoms of Europe, it has always kept its own music. So we have another set of Slav songs but with certain rhythmical differences, not found in the music of other nations. (Chapter IX.) There is an Oriental strain in this music, too, and it must be very ancient indeed, for Oriental tribes have not lived in this country for ages. In addition to an instrument like the Russian _gusslee_, and a violin like the Arabian _rebab_, the Polish have a clarinet made of wood, called by its old name of _chalumeau_, the lute, and an instrument called the _kobza_, belonging to the bagpipe family. This is of great age, but is still in use among the mountaineers of Carpathia, and is made of goat skin with three pipe attachments. The _kobza_ can replace an entire orchestra! GYPSIES Gypsies! The name fires our imagination and brings up pictures of dark-skinned, black-eyed people with glossy black hair, dressed in gay colored shawls, with bright kerchiefs wound around their heads. We think of them as being on “one grand picnic,” living out of doors, cooking their meals over bonfires in the open, sleeping in their covered wagons or tents, or under the stars, always gay, care-free and dirty! Then, think of the Gypsy music,—the dances, the songs, and the wonderful violin playing! So wild, so weird, so out-of-doors is it, that we are thrilled by the very thought of it.