"THE BOUNCING FLEA."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1146, 6 June 1911, Page 4

"THE BOUNCING FLEA."

SMALLEST GUITAR IN THE WORLD. The attention of those who have hoard (lie Royal Hawaiians could not Iwfc have been attracted by the tiny guitar-like instruments which half the members of tlio party play iu the performance of instrumental selections, and in some of (ho accompaniments. l[r. Ernest Kani states that this instnimeiit is an adaptation of the ancient nkeko of Ilawaii, which was originally a kind of Jew's harp with two strings of put. atrelchcd between a bout stick, which was held between the lips and blown upon, whilst (he player tinkled away on them with a straw. The movement of the tongue and lips gavo the required distinction to the notes. Following (his, the instrument toot a boxciiin form, but as there were no souudliolcs, (lie music was of a very dead order. Out of this came the present instrument— the .small guii'ar with its four strings called the ukelele, which, interpreted, means "the bouncing flea." 11: gains its name through the manner in which it is played, by drawing the finger-tins loosely across the strings, while the wrist is held loose and supple. "It is the easiest strine instrument in the world to play," said ~SU: ICoai. "and every chord in music cau be extracted from it."