Malayan musical instruments
C. Boden Kloss records the occurrence of a bamboo tuning-fork in Engano and two variants of the ‘gnong zither from Simalur, both in the West Sumatran island chain (p. 285).
Summary
Kloss notes that a bamboo tuning-fork, previously described from Semang and Philippine Negrito contexts in Fasciculi Malayenses and by Schaudenhorst respectively, has now been found in Engano, the most southerly island of the West Sumatran chain. Examples collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott measure 25 and 30 cms in length and are played by striking them on the thighs. Kloss observes that the Enganese are Proto-Malayans with no Negrito strain, which complicates the proposed Semang–Negrito link suggested by Annandale (p. 286).
He then describes two ‘gnong variants from Simalur: a five-stringed instrument 66 cms long with a distinctive vibrating tongue cut into the reverse side, and a single-stringed instrument 37 cms long with an elliptical wooden tongue over a rectangular sound hole. Both are played with wooden plectrons. Kloss suggests these may be of Achinese origin, given the presence of Achinese settlers on Simalur and the relatively recent transition of the Simalurese from a wooden and shell stage (p. 287).