“What the _ravanastra_, or _râbanastra_, was like is rather doubtful, but at the present time there exists in Ceylon a primitive instrument played with a bow, called _vinavah_, which has two strings of different kinds, one made of a species of flax, and the other of horsehair, which is the material also of the string of the bow…. The hollow part of this instrument is half a cocoa-nut shell polished, covered with the dried skin of a lizard, and perforated below.” (Day, p. 102.) This instrument again is almost identical with the Chinese fiddle called _ur-heen_, which also has two strings, and a body consisting of a small block of wood, hollowed out and covered with the skin of a serpent. The _ur-heen_ has not been mentioned among the most ancient instruments of the Chinese, since there is no evidence of its having been known in China before the introduction of the Buddhist religion into that country. From indications, which to point out would lead too far here, it would appear that several instruments found in China originated in Hindustan. They seem to have been gradually diffused from Hindustan and Thibet, more or less altered in the course of time, through the East as far as Japan. Another curious Hindu instrument, probably of very high antiquity, is the _pungi_, or _jinagovi_, also called _toumrie_ and _magoudi_. It consists of a gourd or of the _cuddos_ nut, hollowed, into which two reed-pipes are inserted. The _pungi_ therefore, somewhat resembles in appearance a bagpipe. It is generally used by the _saperá_ or snake-charmer, who plays upon it when exhibiting the antics of the cobra. The name _magoudi_, given in certain districts to this instrument, rather tends to corroborate the opinion of some musical historians that the _magadis_ of the ancient Greeks was a sort of double-pipe, or bagpipe. Many instruments of Hindustan are known by different names in different districts, and there are many varieties. On the whole, the Hindus possess about fifty instruments. To describe them properly would fill a volume. Some, which are in the Museum, will be found well described and illustrated in the previously mentioned work by the late Major C. R. Day, which, in addition to affording much valuable information to the student and collector, contains a lengthy bibliography of Indian music and musical instruments. THE PERSIANS AND ARABS. Of the musical instruments of the ancient Persians, before the Christian era, scarcely anything is known. It may be surmised that they closely resembled those of the Assyrians, and probably also those of the Hebrews.