By 'highest' does nor R mean closest to the player's head/ "Up" and "down" usually refer to the position on the instrument in playing position. You move down the fingerboard - towards the floor - although you are going up in terms of pitch. If the treble strings were on the bass side they would be nearer to the players head though especially if the instrument was held in a horizontal position.
Monica Monica -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
