MRIDANG. TABLA AND BAHYA,
THE Mridang, or Mathala, considered to be the most ancient of the Indian
drums, is commonly employed by musicians in Southern India as an
accompaniment to their songs and instrumental performances. It
consists of a hollow shell of wood, larger at one end than the other, and upon
which are stretched two heads of skin, fastened to wooden hoops and strained
by leather braces interlaced and passing the length of the Mridang. Small
pieces of wood placed between the shell and braces serve to tune the instrument.
The drum to the left of the plate is the Tabla, that to the right
the Bahya.
