G'day Alison,

As I understand it, the "paper" is actually a single layer peeled from green bamboo. It is attached by gluing with garlic juice: you break the end of a clove of garlic and smear juice evenly around the hole, stretch the bamboo membrane and hold it a moment until it sticks.

You can then adjust the tension (usually up) by huffing over the membrane long enough to slightly moisten the garlic juice, loosening it momentarily and allowing a quick adjustment. The technique seems to come easier to Chinese masters of the ti-tzu (as does enjoying the 'mirliton' sound added to the flute!)

I last bought the bamboo membrane from the Sheng Ho trading company, on Broadway at the Railway Square end of (Sydney's) Chinatown but they are long gone. I think it is (was) available from more general purpose Chinese stores down in Dixon Street. If you can't get in to there, you might try Eastwood area or somewhere else with a high population of ethnic Chinese.

Otherwise, can check out Dixon Street as it is just down the hill from where I work. (I must admit that I have taped over the holes and settled for a much more occidental sound.)

Bob Bolton