HURDWAR', perhaps the most famous spot on.the Ganges, stands on the right or w. bank of the river at the point where it emerges from the sub-Himalayas into the plains of Hindustan. From its position on the sacred stream, it attracts immense numbers of pilgrims for the purposes of ablution. The orthodox season comprises the end of March and the beginning of April—a great fair at the same time engrafting commerce on reli gion. In ordinary years, the attendance amounts to 200,000 or 300,000; but on the occa sion of every 12th year, the latest having occurred in 1867, the visitors, from the com mencement to the close of the festival, are stated to average about 2,000,000. The place is 1024 ft. above the sea, in lat. 29° 57' n., and long. 78° 14' cast.
a very old musical instrument of the stringed kind. which, under the name of leyer, or baurenleycr, spread from its native country, Germany, over a great part of Europe. The hurdy-gurdy consists of a flat, oval-shaped sounding-board, over which the strings are stretched, with a back or bottom of the same size and shape.
These are bound together by tolerably deep sides, or ribs. On one side are from ten to twelve finger-keys, for shortening the sounding lengths of the strings when required. There are four strings of gut which are put into a state of vibration by being rubbed by the edge of a small wooden wheel charged with rosin, and turned by a handle. Two of the strings are tuned in unison as a key-note, or one of them a fifth above; they are placed out of reach of the keys, and form a sort of drone-bass. The other two strings are acted on by the keys, and produce a diatonic scale of from ten to twelve notes. The hurdy-gurdy is only suited to simple music, and was used for such as had many repeti tions. Its simplicity and cheapness rendered it, at one time, a favorite instrument among the peasantry of Europe. The instrument is now mostly to be seen in the hands of Savoyard boys, who play it on the streets.