When I was in college, I ran across an instrument, and I was wondering the name of it. It was essentially a drum which had a hole in the center of the head, and some foot pegs on the sides. A length of rope passed through the hole in the head and was knotted to hold it there. To play this instrument, one would stand on the foot pegs, and pull the rope tight with one hand, and pull a rosin treated piece of leather or cloth up the rope setting up a vibration in the drum head. Thanks

I know what you're talking about but I just don't know the name, sorry.

Sounds like an americanized version of a "Tumbandera".

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DiesIrae nails it(see below). Good job!DiesIrae.

It's called a Lion's Roar. It's kind of an obscure percussion instument, but has been used in a few serious compositions including John Corigliano's "Circus Maximus" and Edgard Varèse's "Ionisation".

Thanks, I think Lion's Roar is the name we used.

Yes, it is a lion's roar. It's really fun to play.