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CHINESE :rvmsIC. 59 No. 18.-The La-pet (1~J 1!11) is a long trumpet with a sliding tube similar to that of the hao-t'u_n~. 1 It gives fom- notes, C, G, 6, E, and is properly a military instrument; but it is also the pn vilege of itinerant knife-grinders to use it to make known their whereabouts in t he street . Another variety of the la-1:ia is crooked, and therefore is called ;i;L jjj ( cha-chiao); it is of variou sizes and is used at wedding processions. ' 3°. SILK. Sillc holds perhaps the first place amongst the natural productions employed in music, not only on account of the great variety of instruments _whose strings are made chiefly of silk, but also because stringed instruments can boast of the greatest antiquity. The classics and other ancient books make :frequent mention of the ch'in and the se in connexion with the first rulers of China; the descriptions which they contain are of the most exalted kind, and are full of allegorical comparisons, of which I will give an idea below. No. 19.-The Ch'in (~), is one of the most ancient mstruments, and certainly the most poetical of all. It was invented by Fu Hsr, who called it ch'in, referring to restriction, prohibition,2 because its influence checks the evil passions, rectifies the heart, and guides the actions of the body. The dimensions, the number of strings, the form, and whatever is connected with thi, instrument had their principles in Nature. Thus, the ch'in measured 3-66 feet or 3 -N of an inch, because the year contains a maximum of 366 days; the number of strings was five, t o agree with the five elements ; the upper part was made round, to represent the fu·mament · the bottom was flat, to represent the ground ; and the r3 studs stood for the 12 moons and the intercalary moon. The strings also were subjected to certain iaws. The thickest string was composed of 240 threads, and represented the Sovereign ; the second and fourth strings cont ained each 206 threads; and the third and fifth 172 threads. It is doubtful if all these remarkable similarities and comparisons are still adhered to and regarded. The ch'in of the present day retains the primary form, but the numbe1· of string has been increased to seven. These strings pass over a bridge near the wide end, and then through the board, and are tightened by nuts below ; at the smaller end they are tightened on two pegs. The 13 studs should be of metal, the bq rd of :ml (t'ung) wood, and the nuts of marble or j adestone ; and the silk should come from sof particular place. 3 1 Compare with the Chatzozerah of the Hebrews d the Tuba of the Romans. 2 ~ ~ ~ ~ JI:: 11}. j~, etc. See ffl ~- 8 ' 1J Ja wt 'G z ffl, ~ Ja ~ ~ z ~, ~ tt R ;,Jt z ~, ft £.t il. llJ z :E- 8