the form which was used in Assyria.

[Illustration: The Arpa.]

The harp (the Soung) shown in the illustration is a favourite Burmese
instrument, and is chiefly used to accompany the voice: it is always
played by young men. It also has thirteen strings, made of silk, and is
tuned by the strings being pushed up or down on the handle. It would
sound strange to our ears, as the Burmese scale is differently
constructed from ours. Every learner of music knows, or ought to know,
that our scale has the semi-tones between the third and fourth, and the
seventh and eighth notes, which gives a smooth progression satisfactory
to our ears; but the Burmese scale places the semi-tones between the
second and third and the fifth and sixth, which is quite different and
to us has not nearly such a pleasant effect. The Soung is held with the
handle resting on the left arm of the performer, who touches the strings
with his right hand.

The Arpa or drum of Oceana is made of wood, and imitates the head and
jaws of a crocodile, with a handle for carrying purposes. The head is
covered with snake-skin, which sometimes gives it an unpleasantly real
appearance. It is used by the natives of New Guinea, especially by those
dwelling around the Gulf of Papua.

HELENA HEATH.

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 167._)

The mysterious loss of their cousin Estelle plunged the three children
into the deepest grief. Alan's sole consolation was that he was allowed
to be of the search-party as soon as he was well enough. Marjorie had
not this consolation. Georgie had some dim idea of creeping away all by
himself to search all their haunts on the common, or in the woods round
St. Cecilia's Well; but a timely remembrance of how stern his father
could be prevented him. Finally, the thought of Aunt Betty, and how
sorry she would be if he disobeyed orders and went wandering all about
the country alone, made him give up the desire. But it seemed very hard
to be obliged do so.

[Illustration: "It seemed as if the whole roof must be coming down."]

Marjorie was overwhelmed with grief, and shut herself up in her room
that she might be alone, since she could not talk to her mother. Lady
Coke being seriously ill, Mrs. De Bohun was unable to leave her for
more than a few minutes now and then. It was a terrible time for them
all, especially as day after day passed and no clue came to guide the
searchers. Colonel De Bohun was constan