Research Items

Abstract

CHINESE GONGS—Major E. C. Kenny, in Man for Septembers, describes the two types of rare ‘Chinese gongs’ whicn arc found in Burma, and usually called by the English residents there ‘Karen War Drums. They are now only found in the little frontier State of Kareimi. The gongs are of two types, and of these the taller and more modern were made up to a time so recent as 1894 by tho Shan for their overlords the Karen. The flatter ancient type is beyond doubt of Chinese origin, and is very rare. The Karen assert that these latter were not made by human agency at all, but by spirits, who are said to assume the forms of beautiful maidens and to sing sweotly in the jungle on the outskirts of villages, attracting youths whom they destroy. One gong of this type in the British Museum is dated “Made by Chang Fu in the 7 month of the 4 year of tho reign of Chien TTsing,” i.e. A.D. 226. The gongs are designated ‘male’ and ‘female’ according to whether they are decorated or not, the latter being the male, and are frequently found in pairs. The drums are used for crop and other festivals, a(nd periodically for summoning the outlying villages; but apparently never for war.