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diff --git a/44014-0.txt b/44014-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c604ddd --- /dev/null +++ b/44014-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2153 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44014 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file + which includes the more than 400 original illustrations. + See 44014-h.htm or 44014-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44014/44014-h/44014-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44014/44014-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries. See + http://archive.org/details/antiqueworksofar00pittuoft + + + + + +ANTIQUE WORKS OF ART FROM BENIN, + +Collected by + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL PITT RIVERS, +D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A. + +Inspector of Ancient Monuments in Great Britain, &c. + + + + + + + +Printed Privately. +1900. + +London: +Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to her Majesty, +St. Martin's Lane, W.C. + + + + +WORKS OF ART FROM BENIN, + +WEST AFRICA. + +OBTAINED BY THE PUNITIVE EXPEDITION IN 1897, AND NOW IN GENERAL PITT +RIVERS'S MUSEUM AT FARNHAM, DORSET. + + +Benin is situated on the Guinea Coast, near the mouth of the Niger, in +latitude 6·12 north, and longitude 5 to 6 east. + +It was discovered by the Portuguese at the end of the fourteenth or +commencement of the fifteenth centuries. The Portuguese were followed +by the Dutch and Swedes, and in 1553 the first English expedition +arrived on the coast, and established a trade with the king, who +received them willingly. + +Benin at that time appears by a Dutch narrative to have been quite +a large city, surrounded by a high wall, and having a broad street +through the centre. The people were comparatively civilized. The king +possessed a number of horses which have long since disappeared and +become unknown. Faulkner, in 1825, saw three solitary horses belonging +to the king, which he says no one was bold enough to ride. + +In 1702 a Dutchman, named Nyendaeel, describes the city, and speaks +of the human sacrifices there. He says that the people were great +makers of ornamental brass work in his day, which they seem to have +learnt from the Portuguese. It was visited by Sir Richard Burton, +who went there to try to put a stop to human sacrifices, at the time +he was consul at Fernando Po. In 1892 it was visited by Captain H. +L. Galloway, who speaks of the city as possessing only the ruins of +its former greatness; the abolition of the slave trade had put a +stop to the prosperity of the place, and the king had prohibited any +intercourse with Europeans. The town had been reduced to a collection +of huts, and its trade had dwindled down to almost nil. The houses have +a sort of impluvium in the centre of the rooms, which has led some to +suppose that their style of architecture may have been derived from the +Roman colonies of North Africa. + +In 1896 an expedition, consisting of some 250 men, with presents and +merchandise, left the British settlements on the coast, and endeavoured +to advance towards Benin city. The expedition was conducted with +courage and perseverance, but with the utmost rashness. Almost +unarmed, neglecting all ordinary precautions, contrary to the advice of +the neighbouring chiefs, and with the express prohibition of the King +of Benin to advance, they marched straight into an ambuscade which had +been prepared for them in the forest on each side of the road, and as +their revolvers were locked up in their boxes at the time, they were +massacred to a man with the exception of two, Captain Boisragon and +Mr. Locke, who, after suffering the utmost hardships, escaped to the +British settlements on the coast to tell the tale. + +Within five weeks after the occurrence, a punitive expedition entered +Benin, on 18th January, 1897, and took the town. The king fled, but +was afterwards brought back and made to humiliate himself before his +conquerers, and his territory annexed to the British crown. + +The city was found in a terrible state of bloodshed and disorder, +saturated with the blood of human sacrifices offered up to their Juju, +or religious rites and customs, for which the place had long been +recognised as the "city of blood." + +What may be hereafter the advantages to trade resulting from this +expedition it is difficult to say, but the point of chief interest in +connection with the subject of this paper was the discovery, mostly in +the king's compound and the Juju houses, of numerous works of art in +brass, bronze, and ivory, which, as before stated, were mentioned by +the Dutchman, Van Nyendaeel, as having been constructed by the people +of Benin in 1700. + +These antiquities were brought away by the members of the punitive +expedition and sold in London and elsewhere. Little or no account of +them could be given by the natives, and as the expedition was as usual +unaccompanied by any scientific explorer charged with the duty of +making inquiries upon matters of historic and antiquarian interest, +no reliable information about them could be obtained. They were found +buried and covered with blood, some of them having been used amongst +the apparatus of their Juju sacrifices. + +A good collection of these antiquities, through the agency of Mr. +Charles Read, F.S.A., has found its way into the British Museum; others +no doubt have fallen into the hands of persons whose chief interest in +them has been as relics of a sensational and bloody episode, but their +real value consists in their representing a phase of art--and rather +an advanced stage--of which there is no actual record, although no +doubt we cannot be far wrong in attributing it to European influence, +probably that of the Portuguese some time in the sixteenth century. + + A. P. R. + + RUSHMORE, SALISBURY, + _April, 1900_. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE I. + + +Fig. 1.--Bronze plaque, representing two warriors with broad +leaf-shaped swords in their right hands. Coral or agate head-dress. +Coral chokers, badge of rank. Leopards' teeth necklace. Coral scarf +across shoulder. Leopards' heads hanging on left sides. Skirts each +ornamented with a human head. Armlets, anklets, etc. Ground ornamented +with the usual foil ornament incised. + +Fig. 2.--Bronze plaque, representing two figures holding plaques or +books in front. Coral chokers, badge of rank. Reticulated head-dresses +of coral or agate, similar to that represented in Plate XXI, Fig. 121. +Barbed objects of unknown use behind left shoulders, ornamented with +straight line diaper pattern. Ground ornamented with foil ornaments +incised. Guilloche on sides of plaque. + +Fig. 3.--Bronze plaque, representing three warriors, two with feathers +in head-dress and trefoil leaves at top; one with pot helmet, button +on top. The latter has a coral choker, badge of rank, and all have +leopards' teeth necklaces. The central figure has a cylindrical case on +shoulder. Two have hands on their sword-hilts. All three have leopards' +heads on breast, and quadrangular bells hanging from neck. Leopards' +skins and other objects hang on left sides. Ground ornamented with foil +ornaments incised. + +Fig. 4.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior with spear in right hand, +shield on left shoulder. Head-dress of coral or agate, similar to that +represented in Plate XXI, Fig. 121. Quadrangular bell hanging from +neck. Chain-like anklets. Coral choker, badge of rank, and leopards' +teeth necklace. A nude attendant on right upholds a large broad +leaf-shaped sword, with a ring attached to pommel. Another holds two +sistri or bells fastened together by a chain. Small figure on left +is blowing an elephant's tusk trumpet. Figures above in profile are +holding up tablets or books. The dress of one of them is fastened with +tags or loops of unusual form. These figures have Roman noses, and are +evidently not negro. Ground ornamented with the usual foil ornament +incised. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE II. + + +Figs. 5 and 6.--Bronze plaque, representing a warrior in centre, +turned to his left. He has a beard and a necklace of leopards' teeth, +but no coral choker. He has a high helmet, somewhat in the form of a +grenadier cap. Quadrangular bell on neck. Dagger in sheath on right +side, and various appurtenances hanging from his dress. He holds a +narrow leaf-shaped sword in his right hand over an enemy who has +fallen, and who has already a leaf-shaped sword thrust through his +body. The victim has a sword-sheath on left side, with broad end, +and a peculiar head-dress. His horse is represented below with an +attendant holding it by a chain and carrying barbed darts in his left +hand. On the right of the conqueror is a small figure blowing a tusk +trumpet, and on his right a larger figure carrying a shield in his left +hand and a cluster of weapons. He has a high helmet, ornamented with +representations of cowrie shells of nearly the same form as that of the +central figure. Above are two figures, one blowing what appears to be a +musical instrument and the other carrying a barbed pointed implement, +and armed with a sword in sheath similar to that of the fallen warrior. +The plaque appears to represent a victory of some kind, and all the +conquerors have the same high helmet. The ground is ornamented with the +usual foil ornament incised. + +Figs. 7 and 8.--Bronze plaque, representing a king or noble on +horseback sitting sideways, his hands upheld by attendants, one of +whom has a long thin sword in his hand in sheath. Two attendants, with +helmets or hair represented by ribs, are holding up shields to shelter +the king from the sun. The king or noble has a coral choker, badge of +rank, with a coral necklace hanging on breast. Horse's head-collar hung +with crotals. A small attendant carries a "manilla" in his hand. The +two figures above are armed with bows and arrows. Ground ornamented +with foil ornaments incised. + + De Bry, "India Orientalis," says that in the sixteenth century both + the king and chiefs were wont to ride side-saddle upon led horses. + They were supported by retainers, who held over their heads either + shields or umbrellas, and accompanied by a band of musicians playing + on ivory horns, gong-gongs, drums, harps, and a kind of rattle. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE III. + + +Fig. 9.--Bronze plaque, naked figure of boy; hair in conventional +bands; three tribal marks over each eye and band on forehead. Coral +choker, badge of rank. Armlets and anklets. Four rosettes on ground +and usual foil ornaments. De Bry says that all young people went naked +until marriage. + +Fig. 10.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior with helmet or hair +represented by ribs. Leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand. A bundle +of objects on head upheld by left hand. Object resembling a despatch +case on left side, fastened by a belt over right shoulder. Human mask +on left side. Four fishes on ground, and the usual foil ornaments +incised. + +Figs. 11 and 12.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure holding a ball, +perhaps a cannon ball, in front. Coral choker, badge of rank. Three +tribal marks over each eye. Crest on head-dress, feather in cap. Skirt +wound up behind left shoulder. Skirt ornamented with a head and hands. +Four rosettes on ground, and usual foil ornaments incised. Guilloche on +sides of plaque. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IV. + + +Fig. 13.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior, feather in cap; broad +leaf-shaped sword in right hand. Coral choker, badge of rank. Leopards' +teeth necklace. Coral sash; ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil, +ornaments incised. + +Figs. 14 and 15.--Bronze ægis or plaque, with representations of two +figures with staves in their right hands. Coral chokers, badge of rank. +On the breasts are two Maltese crosses hanging from the necks, which +appear to be European Orders. The objects held in left hands have been +broken off. The hats are similar to that on the head of the figure, +Fig. 91, Plate XV. Ground ornamented with the usual foil ornaments +incised. + +Fig. 16.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior with pot helmet, button on +top. Coral choker, badge of rank, on neck. Leopards' teeth necklace. +Quadrangular bell on breast. Armlets, anklets, &c. Four rosettes on +ground, and the usual foil ornaments incised. + +Fig. 17.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior with spear in right hand, +shield in left hand; pot helmet, button on top. Quadrangular bell +hanging from neck. Coral choker, badge of rank. Leopards' teeth +necklace. Leopard's skin dress with head to front. On the ground are +two horses' heads below and two rosettes above. Ground ornamented with +the usual foil ornaments incised. + +Fig. 18.--Bronze plaque, figure of warrior. Peculiarly ornamented +head-dress. Coral choker, badge of rank. Leopards' teeth necklace. +Broad leaf-shaped sword in right hand. Coral sash on breast. Leopard's +mask hanging on left side. Armlets, anklets, &c. Small figure of boy, +naked, to right, holding a metal dish with lid in form of an ox's head. +A similar object may be seen amongst the Benin objects in the British +Museum. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. + + +Figs. 19, 20 and 21.--Stained ivory carving of figure on horse. Coral +choker; spear in right hand, the shaft broken. Tribal marks on forehead +incised. Chain-bridle or head-collar. Degenerate guilloche pattern on +base. Straight line diaper pattern represented in various parts. The +stand formed as a socket for a pole. + +Figs. 22, 23 and 24.--Ivory carving of figure on horse, with spear in +right hand and bell on neck, and long hair. The bridle formed as a +head-collar. Degenerate guilloche pattern on base. The stand formed as +a socket for a pole ornamented with bands of interlaced pattern and the +head of an animal. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VI. + + +Figs. 25 and 26.--Ivory carving of a human face. Eyes and bands on +forehead inlaid. Straight line diaper pattern on head-dress, above +which are conventionalised mud-fish. Four bands of coral across +forehead. Ears long and narrow. Found hidden in an oaken chest inside +the sleeping apartment of King Duboar. + +Fig. 27.--Carved wooden panel, consisting of a chief in the centre; +broad leaf-shaped sword, with ring attached to pommel, upheld in right +hand, studded with copper nails, and ornamented with representations +of itself. In left hand a fan-shaped figure terminating in two hands. +Coral choker, badge of rank. Bell on neck and cross-belts. Skirt +ornamented with three heads and a guilloche pattern of three bands +with pellets. Anklets. Attendant on left holding umbrella over chief's +head. Serpent with human arm and hand in its mouth, head upwards; +eyes of inlaid glass; body studded with copper nails. Leopard, drawn +head upwards. On right, figure with jug in left hand and cup in right +hand, standing in a trough or open vessel. Small attendant with paddle +in right hand. At top a bottle bound with grass, and figure of some +object, perhaps a stone celt bound with grass. Brass and iron screws +are used for ornamentation in this carving. Guilloche pattern of two +bands without pellets around the edge of the panel. + +Figs. 28, 29 and 30.--Ivory carved tusk, 4 feet 1 inch long from +bottom to point; traversed by five bands of interlaced strap-work. The +other ornamentation consists of:--Human figures with hands crossed on +breast; bird standing on pedestal; human figures with hands holding +sashes; trees growing downwards; a rosette; mudfish; crocodiles with +heads upwards; a serpent with sinuous body, head downwards; two +cups; a serpent, head upwards; detached human heads. Some of the +representations are so rude that it requires experience to understand +their meaning. On this tusk the interlaced pattern is the prevailing +ornament, and it passes into the guilloche pattern. This tusk is more +tastefully decorated than the other tusk, Figs. 167 and 168, Plate +XXVI, but with less variety in the carving. These carved tusks are said +to represent gods in the Ju-ju houses. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VII. + + +Figs. 31 and 32.--Ivory carving of female. The design as rude as found +in any part of Africa. Necklet and armlets the same as on the bronze +figures. + +Fig. 33.--Ivory cup, stained brown. + +Fig. 34.--Bronze drinking cup, the same as represented in wood-carving, +Fig. 27, Plate VI. + +Figs. 35 and 36.--Lion in bronze. The back is cut in a curved line, as +if adapting it as a foot to some object. + +Fig. 37.--Bracelet of brass, somewhat twisted. + +Fig. 38.--Bracelet of brass, with five projections set with agate. + +Figs. 39 and 40.--Brass bracelet, with negro heads of copper inlaid. +Mud-fish springing from nose on each side and turned up. Coral chokers, +badges of rank. The ring is decorated with incised floral ornaments. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VIII. + + +Figs. 41 and 42.--Figure of a warrior in bronze, with leopard's skin +dress; javelins in one hand and shield in the other. Head-dress of +peculiar form, with feathers. Leopards' teeth necklace. Quadrangular +bell on breast. + +Figs. 43 and 44.--Female figure in bronze, holding up a tablet in right +hand. Head-dress, necklace, &c., of coral or agate. Three tribal marks +over each eye. + +Figs. 45 and 46.--Bronze vessel, somewhat in the form of a coffee-pot. +Handle at back, consisting of a snake with a sinuous body, head +downwards, holding a full-length human figure in its mouth. The spout +consists of a human figure, seated, with two tails; and the spout +springs out of the mouth between the teeth of the figure. Round the +swell of the vessel are four figures resembling frogs, the bodies +ornamented as human heads; nearly similar ornaments are seen on Mexican +stone carvings in this collection. The four feet resemble human feet +with anklets, all pointing to the front. The lid is ornamented with a +human figure seated and four masks, and is fastened to the pot by a +hinge. + +Figs. 47 and 48.--Bracelet of bronze, ornamented with two rudely formed +human heads; some of the yellow earth of the mould appears to be +adhering to the interstices. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE IX. + + +Figs. 49 and 50.--Narrow armlet of brass, with a succession of animals +(? Lizards) in relief on the edge. + +Figs. 51 and 52.--Bronze pointed dish on stand, with ribbed cover, +rabbetted. Use unknown; perhaps an European ecclesiastical utensil. + +Figs. 53 to 55.--Head of a mace, ornamented with leopard and keepers +and heads in bas-relief; decorated with interlaced strap-work, with +brass inlaid in copper. The human heads are partly negro, whilst others +from their straight hair appear to be white men, perhaps Arabs or +cross-breds. The mud-fish is represented one on each side. Described by +Mr. H. Ling Roth in "The Reliquary," Vol. IV, 1898, p. 162. + +Figs. 56 and 57.--Bronze bottle or power flask, representing a female +with barbed arrow-points extending from both sides of the mouth; +perhaps symbolical; and holding a four-pronged instrument in the right +hand. Three tribal marks over each eye; coral necklace. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE X. + + +Figs. 58 and 59.--Leopard's mask head of brass, the pupils of the eyes +represented by a copper band. A band of copper inlaid along the nose +and forehead. A barbed figure on each cheek. + +Figs. 60 and 61.--Leopard's mask head of brass, the pupils of the eyes +represented by bands. A barbed figure on each cheek. Eyelets along the +edges, perhaps to receive crotals as in Figs. 58 and 59. + +Figs. 62 and 63.--Leopard's head in brass, the spots and pupils of eyes +in copper. This appears to have been attached with a leather thong to +the dress. + +Figs. 64 and 65.--Bronze vase. The design appears to be purely native. +It is ornamented with four human masks, two of which are ribbed. There +are two elephants' heads with tusks, but no trunks over each ribbed +head. Four bands of plain guilloche pattern arranged vertically between +the heads. Concentric circles. Thickness of metal on unornamented +parts, 2 mm. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XI. + + +Figs. 66 to 72.--The historic mace of office of Duboar, late King of +Benin; 5 feet 4 inches long, and made of brass. This was found by +an officer of the expedition in the state apartment of the palaver +house, and was evidently left behind by the king's people on account +of its heavy weight, in their hurried exodus from Benin city; the +king is said to have since recognized this staff, and stated that it +had been handed down for many hundreds of years from king to king. +It has the representation of "Overami," or reigning monarch, on the +summit, dressed in the usual manner of Benin warriors. He is standing +on an elephant which has a proboscis terminating in a human hand. This +peculiarity is represented very often in the bronze antiquities of the +Benin country, and especially on the carved tusk, Figs. 167 and 168, +Plate XXVI, and must probably represent some great fetish; the present +race, on enquiries being made, could not elucidate this matter, so its +history must date back many ages. This elephant is in turn supported +by the usual two royal leopards. The monarch holds in his right hand +his chief ju-ju, which never leaves him night or day; in his left +hand he holds a neolithic or stone axe head, edge upwards, which are +looked up to by the natives even now with great awe and superstition. +The interior of the upper part of the mace is hollow, having a piece +of metal inside, formed like a long crotal, and was used as a bell +to keep order. The broad leaf-shaped swords and the execution swords +are depicted in several places over the mace. It is ornamented with +guilloche pattern of two and three bands with intervening pellets. +Part of the mace is ornamented in imitation of twine binding. Near the +foot of the staff is the figure of another elephant with proboscis +terminating in a human hand, holding a plant like a prickly-pear. +Beneath the elephant are two human figures, with Maltese crosses on +breasts, axes in left hands, and sticks in right. Below this are two +axes hafted in serpents' heads, which have human hands in their mouths +and sinuous bodies. Crocodile, head downwards, and two interlaced +mud-fish. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XII. + + +Figs. 73 to 75.--Three triangular brass bells. Fig. 73 has a negro head +in relief on the front and fish-scale pattern. + +Fig. 74 has the eyes, nose and mouth of a human face only. + +Fig. 75 has a spiral in place of a face. + +Figs. 76 to 78.--Sistrum in brass, representing two cups, the lower +one ornamented with a figure holding a ball. The upper figures on each +side represent a king with the arms upheld by attendants on both sides; +on one side the attendants are kneeling. A hand holding a plaque or +book is represented on each side. Crotals are attached to the sistrum +on both sides. A stand in form of a socket to fit a pole and a band +ornamented with interlaced strap-work. This object appears certainly to +be a sistrum, as human figures are shown in some of the plaques holding +them in their hands and striking them with a rod to produce a sound. +A similar instrument in iron, modern, is figured by Mr. Ling Roth, in +"The Reliquary," Vol. IV, 1898, p. 165, from the Yoruba country. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XIII. + + +Figs. 79 to 81.--Figure of a warrior on horseback. Spear in right +hand, the blade having an ogee corrugated section, similar to those +used in all parts of Africa where metal blades are used. The edges of +the blade are bent over by rough usage, which makes it look like a +spoon. The duct for the metal runs from the head of the horse. Darts +in left hand. The ends of the spear and darts are bent inwards, as if +by rough usage. The chain halter is similar to those seen on other +horses and is used as a bridle, held by the little finger of the left +hand. A circular shield, similar to the one in this collection (Plate +XVIII, Fig. 102), though differently decorated, is slung on the left +side over the thigh. The spurs attached to the legs have four points +arranged horizontally. The figure has a leopard's skin on front and +back, ornamented with representations of cowrie shells. The coat and +collar bordered with interlaced strap-work. Dagger on right side. +Crown, apparently of feathers, on head. Base ornamented with interlaced +strap-work or guilloche pattern. The horse is fairly well formed. +The hair conventionalized in straight lines. The face is that of a +negro. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XIV. + + +Figs. 82 and 83.--Well-formed bronze head of a negress. Reticulated +head-dress of agate or coral. Coral necklace. Pendant of agate on +centre of forehead. The pupils of the eyes inlaid apparently with iron. +The upper lip has been inlaid probably with brass. Eleven bands of +coral or agate hang from the head-dress on each side. Well-formed ears. +This and Figs. 88 and 89, Plate XV, and Figs. 98 and 99, Plate XVII, +are the best formed heads in the collection. + +Figs. 84 and 85.--Bronze figure firing a gun, probably representing an +European, with beard, presenting a flint-lock gun. The barrel of the +gun is broken off at the left hand. European morion of the sixteenth +century on head, ornamented with interlaced strap-work. Sword or +cutlass with European guard and a flint-lock pistol slung on left +side. On the right side, a dagger. Armour ornamented with strap-work +or interlaced work. On the pedestal are represented two flint-lock +pistols, a cross-bow, a three-pronged spear, two figures holding guns +and interlaced strap-work. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XV. + + +Figs. 86 and 87.--Brass head inlaid with a copper band along the nose. +The pupils of the eyes inlaid with iron. Reticulated head-dress of +coral or agate. Three tribal marks over each eye. Conventionalized +mud-fish in a frill around neck. + +Figs. 88 and 89.--Well-formed head in bronze, the forehead decorated +with two inlaid bands and four raised tribal marks over each eye. The +pupils of the eyes inlaid apparently with iron. Coral necklace. The +hair in conventional bands of ridges; the ears unusually well formed. + +Figs. 90 and 91.--Human figure standing in bronze. Negro features. +Three tribal marks over each eye. Curved lines of circles and +hatchings above and below the eyes. Three radiating lines branching +from the corners of the mouth. Pot helmet, with brim and reticulated +ornamentation. The ears are very rudely formed. An object somewhat +resembling a key or axe in the left hand. There appears to have been +a staff or pole in the right hand. A cross with equal arms hangs on +the breast by a chain, apparently resembling a religious order. The +skirt only slightly tucked up on left side, ornamented with a guilloche +pattern of two bands. A rough cast. This figure is very similar to +Figs. 293 and 294, Plate XXXVIII. + +Figs. 92 and 93.--Female, in bronze, with staff in left hand. Skirt +ornamented with three bands of guilloche pattern. Head-dress of coral +or agate. Coral choker, and tribal marks. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XVI. + + +Figs. 94 and 95.--Bronze cast of human head. Negro features. Three +tribal marks over each eye. Pupils of eyes inlaid with iron. +Reticulated head-dress and rosettes of coral or agate, similar to that +represented in Plate XXI, Fig. 121. Coral choker, badge of rank. Twelve +bands of coral and a band apparently of plaited hair hanging from +head-dress on each side. + +Figs. 96 and 97.--Human head in brass. Marked negro features, tattoed +with dots and hatchings above and below the eyes. Branch-like figures, +perhaps coral, growing out of the eyes. Three tribal marks over each +eye. Pupils of eyes inlaid with iron. Reticulated head-dress and +rosettes, of coral or agate, similar to those represented in Plate XXI, +Fig. 121. Peculiar figures on each side of the head-dress, perhaps +representing feathers. Coral choker, badge of rank. Bands of coral or +agate hang down from the head-dress at the sides and back of the head. +On the projecting base are represented two leopards, an ox's head, and +other animals, four arms and hands, and a neolithic celt in front. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XVII. + + +Figs. 98 and 99.--Well-formed head in bronze, the forehead decorated +with two inlaid bands and four raised cicatrices (tribal marks) over +each eye. The pupils of the eyes inlaid apparently with iron, coral +necklace, a badge of rank. The metal is very thin, being only 1 mm. in +thickness. The hair in conventional bands of ridges; the ears unusually +well formed. + +Figs. 100 and 101.--Bronze cast of human head. Marked negro features, +rudely formed. Three tribal marks over each eye. Peculiar pointed +reticulated head-dress of coral or agate. Curious lines of incised +circles above and below the eyes. Coral choker, badge of rank. Bands of +coral or agate hanging down on both sides and at the back. Ears badly +formed. The projecting base ornamented with a guilloche pattern of two +bands with pellets. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XVIII. + + +Fig. 102.--Brass shield, 2 feet in diameter and ·08 inch in thickness, +ornamented with three concentric rings. The outer one represents a row +of leopards, with human heads and head-dresses alternating. A broad +leaf-shaped sword, similar to Fig. 106, and two execution swords, +similar to Fig. 110, are also represented on this ring. The middle +ring is ornamented with a serpent with sinuous body, having its tail +in its mouth. The inner ring is filled with foil ornaments, and small +circles cover both this and the outer ring. There is a square hole in +the centre for the attachment of the handle. The shield resembles that +slung on the left hip of the mounted warrior, Figs. 79 to 81, Plate +XIII, but with different ornamentation. + +Fig. 103.--Iron dart, or spear, 5 feet 1 inch long, with wooden shaft. +The blade is leaf-shaped with socket, and is rudely forged. + +Fig. 104.--Iron dart, 3 feet 7-1/4 inches long, with barbed head and +iron shaft. + +Fig. 105.--Iron dagger, or short sword, length 16-1/4 inches; the +incised ornamentation is on alternate sides, like those of the Gaboon +and other parts of Africa. There are also sinuous lines engraved on +alternate sides. It is rudely forged, and the handle is very small and +bound with strips of copper. + +Fig. 106.--Iron leaf-shaped sword, length 19-1/4 inches, similar in +form to those frequently represented in the hands of warriors on the +plaques. It is rudely forged. The wooden handle is inlaid with copper. + +Fig. 107.--Iron leaf-shaped sword, length 19-1/2 inches, with +alternating ornamentation on the opposite sides of the blade, similar +to that prevailing in the Gaboon and other parts of Africa. The handle +is very small, and is bound with strips of iron. + +Figs. 108 and 109.--Brass implement, resembling a bill-hook. The edge +is on the convex side and the concave side is blunt. It is pierced with +five holes and engraved with hatchings in Benin style, in which are +included two stars, a cross, and three crocodiles. + +Fig. 110.--Iron execution sword, 3 feet 1 inch long, hilt and pommel +of brass, with copper inlaid ornamentation. The grip bound with brass +wire. It is single-edged, the edge being on the convex side. It +resembles the swords engraved on the circular shield, Fig. 102, one +on each side of the broad leaf-shaped sword. This kind of sword is +held in the hands of warriors on two plaques in this collection, Fig. +254, Plate XXXIII, and Fig. 291, Plate XXXVIII. It is also seen on the +carved cocoa-nut, Fig. 220, Plate XXX, and elsewhere. It is rudely +forged. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XIX. + + +Fig. 111.--Bronze ægis, representing a chief standing with attendants +holding up his hands in a manner similar to Figs. 76-78, Plate XII, and +Figs. 167 and 168, Plate XXVIII. Frogs between the feet. Cylindrical +spikes on head-dresses. + +Fig. 112.--Bronze ægis, representing man on horseback to left, +wearing single-edged sword with guard. A ranseur of the sixteenth or +seventeenth century in right hand, point down. The hair is straight and +combed out, and may probably represent a white man. The chain bridle is +held up in left hand. Small crotals with chains hang from the eyelets +on the edge of the ægis. Pattern of fish-scales on ground similar to +that on the brass bell, Fig. 73, Plate XII, and elsewhere. + +Figs. 113 and 114.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure standing; +long spear, multibarbed, with ogee-sectioned blade in right hand, +pointing downwards, knob at butt end. There are twelve ducts running +from the ground of the plaque to the shaft of the spear. In left hand +a broad leaf-shaped sword, with a ring attached to pommel, like Figs. +4, 13, 114, 131, 254, 255, &c. Dress like a nightshirt, and composed +apparently of strings of coral, with bare arms. Dagger or short sword +on left side. Quadrangular bell on neck; teeth necklace; coral choker, +badge of rank. Head-dress of metal, in form somewhat resembling +a grenadier cap. Six rosettes on ground, and quatrefoil leaves +incised. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XX. + + +Fig. 115.--Brass key, a good deal filed and tooled all over. Handle +ornamented with twisted rope pattern. The form of this key cannot be +identified as Roman, and is probably European. + +Fig. 116.--Bronze stand for the game of mancala, with ten holes and +two irregular-shaped cavities in the centre. It is the same game as +Figs. 184 and 185, Plate XXVIII, but with fewer holes. The sides are +ornamented with interlaced strap-work, and the stem and the edge of +the base with varieties of guilloche pattern. This game is distributed +nearly all over Africa, and is said to be found wherever Arab influence +is seen. It is also found in Palestine, Syria, Arabia, Maldive Islands, +India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, Java, and the Philippine Islands. + +Fig. 117.--Brass bell, with reticulated pierced work. Negro head on +front. This bell is interesting as being a survival of the bells so +often seen hanging from the necks of the figures on the plaques. It is +evident that it never could have emitted any sound. + +Fig. 118.--Entire tortoise shell, upper and under sides, in brass; +ornamented on the upper side with geometrical pattern; each figure +inlaid with a copper bolt or stud in the centre. + +Figs. 119 and 120.--Bronze human head for holding carved elephants' +tusks. The head-dress, pointed and reticulated, representing coral +or agate. Four tribal marks over each eye. Six vertical bands of +inlaid iron-work over the nose. The pupils of the eyes are of iron. +The head-dress resembles Figs. 100 and 101, Plate XVII. Coral choker. +Guilloche pattern on projecting base. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXI. + + +Fig. 121.--Head-dress composed entirely of agate. It serves to explain +the construction of the head-dresses on the bronze plaques and figures, +showing how the reticulated effect on the plaques is formed by beads +of agate strung together in a kind of network. The rosettes of agate, +and the tags and pendants are also explained by this figure. See Figs. +2, 4, 43, 44, 82, 83, 86, 87, 94, 95, 96, 97, 100, 101, 119, 120, 124, +125, 126, 127, 232-234, 277, 278, &c. + +Figs. 122 and 123.--Circular brass box, ornamented on the top with a +central figure in repoussé work, holding two crocodiles upright in each +hand. The legs terminate in a band turned up on each side as shown +in other designs in Benin art. There are also circular heads having +tribal marks over the eyes. Rosettes, guilloche and fish-scale patterns +are also represented in repoussé. The pieces of the box are rivetted +together with bands of copper. This appears to be the kind of box +represented in the hands of one of the smaller figures in the plaque, +Fig. 179, Plate XXVII. The latter, however, is taller. These objects +have been described by Mr. C. Read as drums in his paper in the "Journ. +Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig. 4. Viewed as a drum, the +projecting flanges at top and bottom are not explained. + +Figs. 124 and 125.--Human mask of brass; the pupils of the eyes inlaid +with iron. Reticulated head-dress, with rosettes probably of agate. +Three tribal marks over each eye. Rows of semi-circles filled with +semi-circles round neck. The features are rounded, and, although a good +deal tooled, are less flattened by filing than some of these masks. +This is a good specimen of Benin art. + +Figs. 126 and 127.--Human mask of brass; the pupils of the eyes inlaid +with iron. Reticulated head-dress, with rosettes probably of agate. +Coral band above the forehead. Three tribal marks over each eye. Ears +badly formed. Coral choker, badge of rank. Guilloche pattern, with +pellets round neck. The face is very much tooled and filed, and the +lips and nose flattened by filing. Crotals have probably been suspended +from the eyelets below, as indicated by the eight links of chains left +remaining (see Plate XIX, Fig. 112). + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXII. + + +Fig. 128.--Armlet entirely of brass, without other metal. Ornamented +with four upright figures and four horizontal heads. The upright +figures have their forearms elevated. The legs are very attenuated +and the skirt of the dress very pronounced. Eyebrows extremely +prominent, and the head-dress of peculiar form and conical. The armlet +is surmounted by raised bands, which pass over the figures, and are +separated by pierced work. Broad rims are shown at top and bottom, and +are edged with herring-bone pattern. + +Fig. 129.--Bronze plaque, representing human figure with beard, riding +to right; a ranseur of the sixteenth or seventeenth century in right +hand, point downwards. Hair combed out straight. No tribal marks. +Bodice fastened with buttons. Pleated kilt like Figs. 235 and 236, +Plate XXXI, and Fig. 247, Plate XXXII. Twisted or plaited bridle of +some limp substance in left hand. Bell and crotals on horse's neck. +Leopards in relief behind figure of horse. Ground ornamented with +trefoil leaves and punch-marks. This figure does not appear to be +negro. The horse appears to be galloping, which is not the usual Benin +method of locomotion. + +Fig. 130.--Bronze plaque, representing two warriors with long, narrow, +leaf-shaped swords upheld in right hands. Peculiar head-dress, a broad +band on the frontal. Hair parted in the middle and hanging down behind. +One figure has a beard. Both have objects resembling bows slung upon +left arm. Leopards' teeth necklaces and quadrangular bells hanging from +necks. Ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised. + +Fig. 131.--Bronze plaque, representing five figures; central figure +holding a staff of unusual form in right hand; coral choker; oval +head-dress; small bells attached to straps hanging down from girdle; +anklets and armlets, the former adorned with crotals; left hand on +handle of sword in scabbard on left side. Small figures on each side +with javelins, the points in a sheath. The larger attendants on each +side holding shields over the central figure, as described by De Bry +in the seventeenth century. All the attendants have a bag on right +side, strapped over shoulder. One of the smaller attendants has a broad +leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand, holding it by the ring attached +to the pommel. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIII. + + +Figs. 132 and 133.--Small head of boy, in bronze, with three raised +tribal marks over each eye, and two vertical marks on forehead. +Head-dress with crest. + +Fig. 134.--Figures in bronze, representing two rude human figures, male +and female, attending an animal, probably a bear. A plate, or board, of +three rows of circles with ten circles in each row, is laid out before +the figures, and is perhaps a game of mancala, of which examples are +seen in Plate XX, Fig. 116, and Plate XXVIII, Figs. 184 and 185. The +female figure has very large anklets, and her hands are spread upon +her stomach. The hair is plaited and ornamented with knobs, resembling +a Mexican pottery figure in this collection. The hair of the male +figure is plaited and turned over on the left side, and he is sitting +cross-legged. His left arm and hand are spread upon the bear, and he +has a rod in the right hand. A burnt core of sand is seen under the +thin metal pedestal. + +Fig. 135.--Brass bottle, hung by chain, and ornamented with +representation of twisted twine, and a guilloche pattern without +pellets round the swell. The rings for hanging it are similar to those +on the powder flask, Figs. 56 and 57, Plate IX. A similar brass bottle, +but smaller, is represented in Plate XXXV, Fig. 267. + +Figs. 137 and 138.--A very rude head of bronze; probably used as the +stand for a carved tusk. Four tribal marks over each eye; the eyes +projecting like those of Figs. 265-6, Plate 35. This is the rudest head +in the collection. + +Fig. 139.--A cylindrical stand of bronze, for carved tusks, +representing on the outside four female figures standing, with bands +of upright interlaced strap-work between. All the figures are holding +objects in their hands. One holds a bird, another a sistrum, which is +being beaten with a stick; the rest are broken. Two of the bands of +interlaced strap-work are of thin repoussé work, and nailed on with +bronze nails. The base and top are ornamented with looped straps, +similar to No. 140. All the figures have three incised tribal marks +over the eyes, and crested head-gear. A vertical hole for the carved +tusk runs down the centre, like those in all the human heads. + +Fig. 140.--Armlet of brass, pierced work, ornamented with bands of +looped straps, similar to Fig. 139, and two bands of concentric +semicircles alternating with Maltese crosses. Around the centre is a +band of broken guilloche pattern, forming a transitional link between +the guilloche, and a peculiar floral ornament common to Benin art. The +representation of European screw-heads forms part of the ornamentation, +and raised eyelets alternate with the screw-head ornaments. + +Fig. 141.--Armlet of copper, ornamented with horizontal human heads of +brass. The head-dresses are ornamented with fish-scale pattern, and the +hair is combed out straight. The heads alternate with double-coiled +mud-fish, resembling Fig. 276, Plate XXXVI. It is not quite easy to +understand how this work was done. Both the copper and the brass appear +to have been formed by casting. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIV. + + +Fig. 142.--Bronze open-mouthed vessel, with six projecting eyelets +round the neck, and a handle. + +Figs. 143 and 144.--Bronze or brass figure of cock, 22 inches high, +including pedestal. The feathers are represented in straight and +curved lines of hatchings. The pupils of the eyes are inlaid copper, +of lozenge-shaped form. The tarsus is unnaturally broad. On the top of +the pedestal in front is a Maltese cross, with a band of interlaced +strap-work. The sides of the base are ornamented with interlaced +strap-work, and representations of three ox's heads are on the front. A +fine specimen of barbaric art. + +Figs. 145 and 146.--Human naked figure of bronze. A large thick plaster +covers the whole of the back, and is fastened on with cords round the +arms and legs. Mr. H. Ling Roth believes this to represent a cure for +cretinism, and says that two larger figures like it have been seen in +Benin city. ("Reliquary," Vol. IV, 1898, p. 173.) + +Figs. 147 and 148.--Two bronze female figures back to back, with one +hat, being the handle of one of the swords or wands (see Figs. 202 to +211, Plate XXIX), used by virgins in their dances. There is a large +iron pin right through the casting. + +Figs. 149 and 150.--Bronze head of girl. Three tribal marks incised +over each eye; pupils of eyes of iron, inlaid; necklace of agate or +coral. + +Figs. 151 and 152.--Brass vessel, resembling a coffee pot. A human +figure sitting in front, out of the mouth of which the spout emerges. +The handle at back represents a sinuous snake with the head downwards, +like that of Fig. 46, Plate VIII. Bands of fish-scale pattern surround +the vessel. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXV. + + +Figs. 153 and 154.--Carved ivory head of leopard, the spots of lead, +inlaid. This resembles in form the bronze ones, Figs. 58-63, Plate X. +It is apparently very old. + +Figs. 155 to 157.--Ivory carved sistrum, with a large and a small bell, +similar to the brass one, Figs. 76-78, Plate XII. On the side of the +large bell is a chief standing with his hands upheld by attendants in +the usual manner; a snake-headed sash hangs from waist. On the top two +carved figures, one of which has been broken off. At the back of the +small bell is a band of straight line diaper pattern, and on the top +a crocodile's head holding a closed human hand. It is much broken. +This object is of interest as showing it to be a survival derived from +a metal sistrum. Mr. H. Ling Roth has described this object at some +length in "The Studio," December, 1898. + +Fig. 158.--Necklace of bronze, ornamented with human heads in +relief, and birds with long beaks, perhaps meant for vultures, but +too long-necked for that bird, picking at the figures of extended +skeletons. In the intervals between the other figures are oval holes +with raised edges, probably a degenerate representation of the coiled +mud-fish so frequently shown in other Benin antiquities. The fastening +end of the necklace is broken, disclosing the fact that the core of the +object is of some lighter material encased in copper or bronze. It has +a hinge on one side, probably to facilitate the opening of it. + +Figs. 159 and 160.--Brass handle of iron sword, with fragment of the +iron sword in it. It has two human faces back to back, covered by +one hat, as in Figs. 147 and 148, Plate XXIV, and representations of +European screw-heads used as ornaments, as in Fig. 140, Plate XXIII. + +Figs. 161 to 163.--Bronze staff of office, 4 feet 11 inches in length, +weighing 14 lbs.; it has two elongated crotals in the upper end, with +long slits for the emission of the sound, enclosing loose rods of iron. +Between the slits are vertical bands of guilloche pattern with raised +edges, similar to those represented on the stem and top of the mancala +board, Fig. 116, Plate XX, and a horizontal band of guilloche pattern +with pellets in relief. On the top is an upright human hand, holding +a curled mud-fish. The middle of the staff is ornamented by curious +nondescript figures alternating with balls, and the lower end has an +oblong butt ornamented on the four sides with guilloche pattern, like +that of the crotals on the upper end. The staff has been broken in the +middle and mended by recasting in a clumsy way, the metal of the part +introduced being thicker than the staff itself. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVI. + + +Figs. 164 and 165.--Carved ivory figure of a woman (?) standing, the +arms deficient; They were fitted into square sockets on each side, and +were fastened by large bronze nails, one of which remains. A row of +five leopards' heads hanging from the waist-belt, edged with rows of +pellets, or perhaps eyelets, but much defaced. The lips are very thick +and the nose broad. The pupils of the eyes are represented by deep +circular cavities. No tribal marks apparent, the breasts are not large, +but pendant. The whole of the ivory is very much weathered and pitted, +especially the legs and base. The figure was accompanied by another of +the same size exactly like it and without arms, which was not purchased. + +Fig. 166.--Coral whip or whisk, probably a badge of office. Four tags, +two of which are ornamented with crocodiles embroidered with metal. + +Figs. 167 and 168.--Ivory carved tusk, 3 feet 6 inches long from bottom +to point. Band at bottom with reticulated or square-shaped ornament, +probably derived from interlacing bands. Commencing from the bottom, +the ornamentation consists of:--A coiled serpent, tail in mouth. +Leopard's head and human head. Human figures standing, one having a +cross on breast, and a key or axe-shaped object in left hand similar +to the bronze figure, Figs. 90 and 91, Plate XV; staff in right hand. +Figure holding sash round waist. Elephant's head with tusks, proboscis +terminating in a human hand. Human figure with spear in left hand, +shield in right hand. Bird standing on pedestal. Human figure upholding +broad leaf-shaped sword in right hand; bell on neck; pedestal on top of +head; feather in cap. Human figure. + +Fig. 169.--Ivory ring, carved, with 3 birds. + +Fig. 170.--Ivory bracelet, rudely carved, with representations of +leopards' and elephants' heads and perhaps the vestiges of the mud-fish. + +Fig. 171.--Carved ivory bracelet, representing a snake, the eyes inlaid. + +Figs. 172 and 173.--Ivory bell, or rattle. With clapper of ivory, +consisting of an elephant's tusk point, with human head carved; tribal +marks over eyes. + +Figs. 174 and 175.--Dagger, the handle ornamented with lines of dots +and circles. The blade has an ogee section, similar to that which +prevails in the Gaboon and nearly all parts of Africa. + +Figs. 176 and 177.--Wooden head-dress. The horizontal bar appears +to represent a shark with mouth and tail, ornamented with carved +representations of animals and masks. Said to be from Benin, West +Africa. The masks are quite characteristic of Benin art. The eyes of +the large mask are formed of the metal bases of cartridges, which +proves it to be quite modern. It is similar in character to Fig. 183, +Plate XXVII. It is perhaps Jekri, see a paper by Messrs. Granville and +Ling Roth in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. I, New Series, Plate +VIII, Fig. 3. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVII. + + +Fig. 178.--Ivory trumpet, made of the point of an elephant's tusk. +Mouth-hole on the convex side. The butt end is ornamented with two +snakes in two bands, tails in mouths. + +Fig. 179.--Bronze plaque, with five figures; the central figure with +coral choker, badge of rank, coral or agate head-dress with feather, +and sash. Broad leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand; spear, point +down, in left. Two boys, one with ivory trumpet, the other holding a +brass box nearly similar to Figs. 122 and 123, Plate XXI. These objects +have been described by Messrs. Read and Dalton as drums in their paper +in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig. 4. Viewed +as a drum, the projecting flanges at top and bottom are not explained. +Leopard's head on girdle. Attendants carrying shields; quadrangular +bells on necks. The left attendant is holding the same spear as the +central figure, point down, as in Fig. 17, Plate IV. Head-dresses of +attendants with ornaments of cowrie shells. Ground ornamented with +leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised. + +Fig. 180.--Bronze plaque, representing the figure of a warrior, with +unusually formed helmet, apparently of metal. Quadrangular bell on neck +and teeth necklace. Shield on right arm, and spear with square cap at +butt end, point downwards, in left hand. The ground is ornamented with +two half-moons and the usual leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised. + +Fig. 181.--Bronze plaque, representing three figures, the central one +beating a drum with his fingers, and no drum-sticks. The drum has pegs +with knobs to fasten down the skin, like Fig. 248, Plate XXXII, and +similar to the Jekri drum figured in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. +I, New Series, Plate VIII, Fig. 5. Quadrangular bell on chest. Both the +side figures hold sistri with two bells, like Figs. 76 to 78, Plate +XII, upheld in their left hands, which they are beating with sticks in +their right hands. This plaque gives a fair idea of the kind of music +used in Benin. + +Fig. 182.--Brass oblong box, lid deficient. Lock of European form and +ornamentation. Faces and sides of box ornamented with raised rosettes +and incised floral designs resembling that on Figs. 76 to 78, Plate +XII, Fig. 225, Plate XXX, Fig. 282, Plate XXXVII, and Fig. 306, Plate +XL. It has four legs, and is European in appearance. + +Fig. 183.--Wooden head-dress, with carved representations of animals +on top. Said to be from Benin, West Africa. It was brought over from +West Africa with things from Benin. It is similar in character to Figs. +176 and 177, Plate XXVI. It is perhaps Jekri, see a paper by Messrs. +Granville and Ling Roth in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst." Vol. I, New +Series, Plate VIII, Fig. 3. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVIII. + + +Figs. 184 and 185.--Large mancala board of bronze. It has 352 +holes; another in this collection, Fig. 116, Plate XX, has only ten +circular holes. The sides are ornamented with rectangular forms +linked together. This game is distributed all over Africa, especially +where Arab influence is seen. It is also found in Palestine, Syria, +Arabia, Maldive Islands, India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, Java and the +Philippine Islands. + +Figs. 186 and 187.--Curved iron knife, with handle carved as a human +figure. The edge is on the convex side. + +Figs. 188 and 189.--Dagger in leather sheath. Blade with a +quadrilateral section. Brass handle with forked pommel. + +Figs. 190 and 191.--A dagger or prod of ivory. Negro head on the upper +part, below which is a human female figure reversed and crouched; the +hands holding the breasts; the legs crouched up. Stained yellow; blunt +pointed. + +Figs. 192 and 193.--Point of elephant's tusk, carved with a +representation of a human figure kneeling. At point, a skeleton of a +crocodile, and a human head at base, the mouth of which is peculiar. It +appears to be a whistle or musical instrument. + +Figs. 194 and 195.--Knife with ivory handle. The brass sheath +ornamented with human figures, a floral ornament, and a man on a horse. + +Figs. 196 and 197.--Pointed rod of bronze, ornamented with two heads. +Head-dress of upper head ornamented with bands of straight line diaper +pattern. Crocodile head holding lower part of the rod in mouth. + +Figs. 198 and 199.--Broad knife-shaped sword of iron; the wooden handle +bound with brass and iron bands alternating. On one side the blade is +engraved with a human figure and an execution sword traced in lines +of dots and incised lines, as is frequently the case in Australian +representations of figures on wood. The other side of the blade has +an ornamentation in leaves on a sinuous stem, and a square pattern of +interlaced bands. + +Fig. 200.--Brass bracelet, having amongst other ornaments a band of +straight line diaper pattern. + +Fig. 201.--Bronze link or buckle, or portion of one, with incised +floral guilloche ornament, similar to that on the brass wand, Fig. 211, +Plate XXIX, and the armlets, Fig. 140, Plate XXIII, and Fig. 238, Plate +XXXII. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIX. + + +Figs. 202 and 203.--Brass dancing sword or wand, said to be used by +virgins in their dances. The handle is ornamented with two figures, +which appear to be holding some objects. The blade is engraved with +guilloche pattern on both sides. + +Figs. 204 to 209.--Three brass dancing swords or wands, said to be used +by virgins in their dances. Each handle is ornamented by four rudely +cast figures back to back, carrying objects in their hands, two of +which can be identified as birds, and two or three have leaf-shaped +swords with ring on pommel. One has bands of straight line diaper +pattern. The blades are ornamented with guilloche patterns and floral +ornaments incised. + +Figs. 210 and 211.--Brass dancing sword or wand, said to be used by +virgins in their dances. The handle is ornamented with four figures, +which are in pairs back to back. They appear to be holding swords +and other objects. The blade is ornamented on one side with bands +of strap-work, and on the other with a sinuous line of branching +leaves (floral guilloche). Straight line diaper pattern and lines of +half-circles are on the square stem of the handle. + +Figs. 212 and 213.--Iron wedge-shaped sword, single-edged, enlarging +to a broad end. Ivory handle; the grip carved in pointed leaves and +studded with lead; pommel in form of a leopard's head; the eyes inlaid +with lead; a band carved as two scaly snakes at bottom. The scabbard +worked in green plush and red cloth, with human figures and tortoises +alternating. This is probably the kind of work represented in metal +on some of the dresses on the plaques. The sword belts terminate in +tassels of worsted or some other limp material. + +Fig. 214.--Iron spear-head, modern, with ogee section, similar to those +of Benin. Iron and brass bound shaft. + +Figs. 215 and 216.--Iron spear, length 4 feet 11 inches, the head +having an ogee section, similar to those used at the present time on +the Gaboon and elsewhere in West Africa. Below the spear-head the shaft +is ornamented with bronze figures of leopards in two places and two +degenerate elephants' heads and eyes, the proboscis terminating in a +human hand holding a leaf, as so frequently shown elsewhere. The butt +end is cased and bound with brass. The shaft is of iron, with a brass +band on the upper parts. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXX. + + +Figs. 217 and 218.--Carved cocoa-nut, with carving representing a +European in boat with spear in right hand and apparently a paddle in +the left hand. Figure armed with hoe, and another cutting a palm-tree, +with a kind of chisel in the right hand and a bill-hook in the left. +One of the figures has distinct buttons on the coat. + +Figs. 219 to 221.--Carved cocoa-nut, representing a native on a horse +to left, holding up chain-bridle in left hand; spear in right hand, +point down. Horse very ill-formed and indistinct. Another carving +represents a figure, apparently in boat, holding spears point down. +One of the figures is beating a pressure drum, which Mr. Ling Roth +describes as being similar to those of the modern Yorubas. The +drum-sticks used by two of the figures have curved heads and flat ends. +A band of chevrons within chevrons are on the trousers of two figures. +The marks on the faces consist of three lines radiating from the +corners of the mouth, as in Figs. 90 and 91, Plate XV, and crosses on +the cheeks. Tribal marks on faces. A native execution sword, similar to +Fig. 110, Plate XVIII, and a flint-lock gun are represented separately +between the other figures. The cocoa-nut is hung by a chain of European +manufacture. The stopper represents a human face on two supports. Mr. +H. Ling Roth, in whose possession this object formerly was, gives a +more detailed account of it in "The Studio," December, 1898. + +Fig. 222.--Small brass crotals with semicircular ornaments. + +Figs. 223 and 224.--Brass bracelet, ornamented with brass +representations of rows of cowrie shells, in groups of nine. + +Figs. 225 and 226.--Brass object of unknown use, ornamented on the +outside with three half-moons and a floral pattern in incised lines, +similar to that on the brass sistrum, Figs. 76 to 78, Plate XII; the +brass box, Fig. 182, Plate XXVII, and the large quadrangular bell, +Figs. 281 and 282, Plate XXXVII. The half-moons are inlaid or plated in +copper on the brass. The edges of the object are ornamented with a band +of plain guilloche pattern incised. It is possible that this might be +a degenerate representation of a double-coiled mud-fish, as shown on +the bronze ægis, Fig. 276, Plate XXXVI, and on the bronze necklet, Fig. +158, Plate XXV. + +Fig. 227.--Necklet of agate and coral beads. Said to have belonged to +the King of Benin. + +Fig. 228.--Armlet of coral beads. + +Fig. 229.--Necklace of agate cylindrical beads. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXI. + + +Fig. 230.--Eight shells of bronze gilt, forming part of a necklace. + +Fig. 231.--Ten gold shells, which formed part of the King of Benin's +necklace. The shells appear to be "cerithidæ." They are cast hollow. +The weight of the ten is 8-3/4 ounces. + +Figs. 232 to 234.--Bronze statuette, representing a figure standing; +with broad leaf-shaped sword, similar to Figs. 326, 327, 328 and 329, +having a twisted ring pommel in right hand, and a sistrum in left hand. +Coral choker, badge of rank. Three tribal marks over each eye. Agate +head-dress, similar to Fig. 121, Plate XXI, and curved agate pendants +on each side. A large twisted ring rises out of the head-dress, which +looks as if intended to enclose some thick band of cloth or other +substance to suspend it. The crown of the head-dress terminates in a +thick cylindrical spike with a flat top, like Fig. 111, Plate XIX, +Fig. 155, Plate XXV, and Figs. 167 and 168, Plate XXVI. The sistrum is +ornamented with a full-length human figure, holding a staff in right +hand and the so-called key or axe in left hand. Beneath the bowl of +the sistrum are three projecting cruciform bars, and the upper edge +of the bowl is ornamented on each side with two heads very rudely +cast. Dr. Felix Roth, in the "Halifax Naturalist," June, 1898, p. 33, +speaks of these projecting prongs as being used for killing victims +for sacrificial purposes, but the fact of their being sistri is shown +in connection with Fig. 181, Plate XXVII. Sinuous serpents cover the +shaft and bowl of the sistrum. The leaf-shaped sword is ornamented, +front and back, with small imitations of itself. The figure has bands, +probably of coral, crossing on the breast. The skirt is ornamented +with conventionalized human heads with long hair and rows of guilloche +pattern. Ankles have coral anklets. The skirt is bound up in the usual +manner in a band behind the left shoulder. There is a band of small +bells round the hips, and a human head and a bunch of bells on the left +side. This figure was obtained from the Liverpool Museum, in the report +of which it is elaborately described and figured with three others like +it. "Bulletin of the Liverpool Museums," Vol. I, No. 2, p. 59. There is +a figure like this in the British Museum. It is of considerable weight, +being cast solid. + +Figs. 235 and 236.--Bronze figure of a native, holding what appears +to be a flint-lock gun, but the hammer of the lock is broken off. +The stock is ornamented with a debased human head. The figure has a +leopard's skin on front and back, tail and hind legs of which are +shown behind; the tail terminates in a square bell. Sword in sheath on +right side and a dagger under the arm on left side, with small bags on +both sides. There is a row of eighteen cartridges in the waist-belt +in front. The cartridges appear to be stuck upright into sockets in +the belt. A curved horn powder-flask is on the belt on the left side. +Pleated kilt below waist-belt. On the ground, touching the feet, is +a decapitated head and nine large pellets, perhaps cannon balls. The +pedestal ornamented with interlaced strap-work, alternating with oval +figures, in character resembling the ornament on the stock of the gun. +It stands on a framework of curved bars, now broken. The breeches are +ornamented with vertical rows of circles. Although this figure holds a +flint-lock gun, it is undoubtedly a native, as three tribal marks are +shown above each eye. The face is also prognathic. The head-dress seems +to be of a woven material. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXII. + + +Figs. 237 and 238.--Armlet of ivory, ornamented with representations +of human heads, birds and animals, carved on the surface, and also of +degenerate elephants' heads, the proboscis, in each case, terminating +in a human hand holding a palm branch; horses' heads; tortoises; +leopards, &c.; all of the most conventionalized forms. Bands of crotals +are carved at each end of the armlet. The armlet consists of two halves +connected by a thin brass plate and copper rivets on one side and on +the other by copper fastenings. The plate is ornamented by a floral +guilloche pattern, similar to that on the central band of Fig. 140, on +the wands, Figs. 209 and 211, and elsewhere. This pattern is figured +by Messrs. Read and Dalton in the "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. XXVII, +Plate XXII. The carved figures represented on this ivory armlet are of +much greater rudeness than those on the bronze objects generally. Much +weathered and probably very old. + +Fig. 239.--Quadrangular brass bell, with a degenerate face on one side; +the eyes of the face are converted into loops. + +Fig. 240.--Quadrangular brass bell. The loops on one side are evidently +derived from the degenerate face on Fig. 239. + +Fig. 241.--Brass bracelet, consisting of human heads linked together. +One of the heads has projections ornamented with concentric circles. + +Fig. 242.--Necklet of cylindrical coral beads, four of which are +ornamented with straight line diaper pattern. One of the beads is +ornamented with a guilloche pattern, with pellets inlaid with lead. + +Fig. 243.--Brass bracelet, of peculiar form, ornamented with small +circular punch-marks. + +Fig. 244.--Brass bracelet, with clusters of rows of circular knobs or +shells. + +Fig. 245.--Brass bracelet, with six quadrangular knobs having red agate +inlaid; similar to Fig. 38, Plate VII. + +Fig. 246.--Ægis of bronze, representing a horse's head; edged with +eyelets probably for suspending crotals, similar to Fig. 112, Plate +XIX, and Figs. 126 and 127, Plate XXI. Engraved on one side of the back +is a broad leaf-shaped sword with ring pommel, similar to that on the +Ægis, Fig. 276, Plate XXXVI. These engravings are peculiar, and seem to +denote a badge or mark, perhaps of ownership of some kind. + +[Illustration: BACK VIEW.] + +Fig. 247.--Bronze plaque, representing figure standing; weapon or +implement resembling a ranseur of the sixteenth or seventeenth century +in right hand, point upwards. Hair combed straight out. Pot helmet. +Bodice fastened with three buttons and tags, perhaps armour. Left hand +on left side. Band with clasp round waist. Pleated kilt like Fig. 129, +Plate XXII; Figs. 235 and 236, Plate XXXI; Figs. 324 and 325, Plate +XLII, and Figs. 360 and 361, Plate XLVI. This figure has very thick +lips, but might not be negro. Ground ornamented with leaves in twos and +threes, incised, and dotted punch-marks. The figure somewhat resembles +in character the mounted figure, Fig. 129, Plate XXII. + +Fig. 248.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure playing a drum with +sticks; quadrangular bell on neck, ornamented with a sinuous snake, +head downwards. Head-dress with two feathers. Hair combed straight and +coiled in plaits. A peculiar kind of straight line diaper pattern on +drum. This drum has pegs with nobs to fasten down the skin, similar to +that represented on the plaque, Fig. 181, Plate XXVII, and to the Jekri +drum figured in "Journ. Anthrop. Inst.," Vol. I, New Series, Plate +VIII, Fig. 5. Ground ornamented with incised leaf-shaped foil ornaments +and punch-marks. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXIII. + + +Figs. 249 and 250.--Large bronze cover, use unknown; the ribs +ornamented in the usual incised style of Benin work. + +Figs. 251 and 252.--Top of a bronze mace, with slits resembling a +crotal and a figure with an object, probably a neolithic celt, in the +right hand. The figure appears to be bent forward. + +Fig. 253.--Bronze round bell, similar to those attached to the dresses +on the plaques, Fig. 254, Plate XXXIII, and Fig. 264, Plate XXXIV. + +Fig. 254.--Bronze plaque, representing a warrior, execution sword +upheld in right hand; broad leaf-shaped sword in left, with a twisted +ring or pommel. Quadrangular bell on neck, ornamented with a sinuous +snake. Round bell on side; peculiar head-dress; armlets; object like a +book under left arm; teeth necklace. + +Fig. 255.--Bronze plaque, representing two figures, the right one +having a broad leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand, with a large +ring extending from pommel; teeth necklace, but no coral choker; no +bell on neck; cylindro-oval head-dress with feather on left side. Both +figures hold the same spear, point downwards. Left figure with shield +on left arm, quadrangular bell, and leopard's skin dress. Head-dress of +the same form as the other, ornamented with cowrie shells. Skirts of +both figures ornamented with human heads. + +Fig. 256.--Carved wooden Jekri paddle, neighbourhood of Benin. Modern. +Chain link shaft. Face on handle end. Pierced work blade. + +Fig. 257.--Carved wooden Jekri paddle, neighbourhood of Benin. Modern. +Chain link shaft. Full length human figure on handle end. Pierced work +blade, with human figures, crocodiles, etc. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXIV. + + +Figs. 258 to 260.--Round execution block, with marks on the top for +the thumbs and forehead of the victim; elaborately ornamented all +over. On the projection on which the forehead is intended to rest is a +double row of cowrie shells, bound round. A band of guilloche pattern, +incised, runs round the circle, and the projections for the thumbs of +the victim are ornamented with herring-bone pattern. On the sides of +the block are three human figures in relief holding hands; shields, +a leaf-shaped sword, and a trident points down. The shields are +ornamented with straight line diaper pattern, and a band of the same +runs round the top of the edge of the block. Two human arms and hands +are on the side, and two boxes or stools are between the human figures. +The bottom of the sides is ornamented with a band of guilloche pattern +in relief. The figures are clothed with jackets and skirts. The whole +is much worn, as if by constant use. + +Fig. 261.--Ivory horn, mouth-piece on convex side. Ornamented with +bands of broken guilloche pattern. + +Figs. 262 and 263.--Bronze plaque. A figure holding a so-called key in +right hand. Coral choker, badge of rank. Head-dress, probably of agate +or coral. No cross on dress. + +Fig. 264.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure standing holding in +both hands a leaf-shaped sword of the kind shown in No. 130. The sword +is narrower, and the swell of the blade nearer the point than in the +majority of specimens. A round bell is attached to the left side. The +hair appears to be dishevelled and partly plaited. Three tribal marks +over eyes. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXV. + + +Figs. 265 and 266.--Bronze grotesque mask, intended probably as a stand +for the carved ivory tusks in the Ju-Ju houses. The eyeballs project +like those of the head, No. 137. Three tribal marks over each eye, and +four over the nose. The forehead is very projecting; the nose aquiline +and very broad. Tags, apparently of coral, are on the sides. The ears +are very large. + +Fig. 267.--Brass bottle and chain, rudely cast. + +Figs. 268 to 270.--Long oval wooden bowl carved out of the solid. On +one side (Fig. 269) is a row of five human figures in relief; the +central figure has his hands upheld by attendants, who hold in their +other hands shields having barbed javelins, points upward behind them. +The shields are ornamented with straight line diaper pattern. Another +figure holds an object under the arm, perhaps a drum or a food vessel. +At both ends there is a representation of a degenerate elephant's +head, the proboscis terminating in a human hand holding a branch, +similar to Figs. 72, 167, and 316. At one end is a rude representation +of a degenerate mud-fish. The other side of the bowl (Fig. 268) is +ornamented with a broad guilloche pattern and a square interlaced +figure. The interior of the bowl is very rudely chiselled out, showing +marks of the tool all over. The carving is very rough and much in the +style of the execution block, Figs. 259 and 260, Plate XXXIV. + +Fig. 271.--Small bronze bird, with something in the mouth; very +rude. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXVI. + + +Figs. 272 to 274.--Wooden comb, the handle carved as links of a chain, +with a figure at top. + +Fig. 275.--Small iron knife or bill-hook; the edge on the convex side; +with brass handle terminating in a pommel representing a human hand. + +Fig. 276.--Bronze ægis. Two interlaced mud-fish. This perhaps shows the +origin of the oval hole sometimes found on some of the objects, see +Fig. 141, Plate XXIII, and Fig. 158, Plate XXV. This ægis has a broad +leaf-shaped sword incised on the back of it, as shown in the annexed +woodcut. These engravings are peculiar, and seem to denote a badge +or mark, perhaps of ownership of some kind. The ægis is edged with +eyelets, probably for suspending crotals, similar to Fig. 112, Plate +XIX, and Figs. 126 and 127, Plate XXI. + +[Illustration: BACK VIEW.] + +Figs. 277 and 278.--Head carved in hard wood. The coral choker, the +band round the head-dress, the feather on left side and the base are +entirely covered with thin brass or bronze. Apparently intended to +represent a cast metal head. Whether this is the case, or whether it is +earlier than the introduction of metal casting, it is difficult to say. +The face only and the top of the head-dress are left uncovered with +metal. The top of the head-dress represents a reticulated head-dress +of agate, like No. 121. The pupils of the eyes and the three tribal +marks over each eye are of darker wood let in. There is a bronze band +of metal along the forehead and nose. A ring of bronze-headed nails +surrounds each eye. There is a broad hanging band on each side of the +face, covered with thin metal and surmounted by a conical ornament. +The metal is fastened on to the wood with oblong rivets. The face is +extremely rudely carved. Round the base is a band of peculiar ornament +in repoussé work, which is either intended for a floral ornament or +a broken guilloche pattern, like that on the blades of the wands and +elsewhere. There is a vertical hole through the back of the head, which +is not large enough to contain a tusk. + +Figs. 279 and 280.--Bronze rod, pointed below; perhaps the head of a +staff intended to fit on to a wooden stem. Ornamented with a human +figure sitting at top, with a human-headed staff in right hand, and a +neolithic celt, edge up, in left hand. Coral choker and head-dress with +serpents hanging head downwards, and a band of straight line diaper +pattern. Three tribal marks over each eye. Band of guilloche pattern on +skirt-rings for pendants (? crotals). Below, in a separate division, +is a nude human figure kneeling and holding something in front in both +hands. At sides sinuous serpents with the heads down, and crocodiles or +lizards. Below again a sinuous serpent, head upwards. The whole very +rudely cast. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXVII. + + +Figs. 281 and 282.--Bronze square bell, the ornamentation tastefully +designed, with a human head, crocodiles, and floral ornaments. The +clapper is in the form of a sinuous snake, head downwards. + +Fig. 283.--Ivory armlet, very rudely carved in human figures, +crocodiles, serpents, &c. + +Figs. 284 and 285.--Brass or bronze sword, the pommel in the form of a +twisted ring, as so frequently shown on the plaques, see Figs. 4, 113, +179, 255, etc. The blade is of unusual form, very broad, and rounded at +the end. + +Figs. 286 to 288.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure standing and +holding in his left hand a staff with an eagle on the top. A staff with +a bird on the top is represented in one of the figures of No. 139. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXVIII. + + +Fig. 289.--Bronze plaque, representing a human head with straight +combed hair. Aquiline nose, moustache and beard; not of negro type. The +ground ornamented with the usual leaf ornament. + +Fig. 290.--Bronze plaque, with pendant fruit ribbed. Raised rosettes +and the usual leaf ornament on field incised. + +Fig. 291.--Bronze or brass plaque. Figure, full length; an unknown +implement upheld in right hand, and an execution sword held +horizontally in left hand. Three tribal marks over each eye. The dress +ornamented with human heads, half-moons, and floral ornaments incised. +Ground ornamented with the usual leaf-shaped ornament. + +Fig. 292.--Bronze ægis. A female with pointed head-dress, and coral +choker, badge of rank; striking a sistrum with a rod. It is repaired +with lead. + +Figs. 293 and 294.--Bronze statuette, representing a negro figure +holding a so-called key in the left hand. The figure has three tribal +marks over each eye, and three radiating lines branching from the +corners of the mouth. The pupils of the eyes are inlaid with iron. A +cross on the breast hanging from the neck by a cord. No coral choker, +but a necklace perhaps of coral or agate. A pot hat with a narrow +straight brim. This figure exactly resembles No. 90. The ears are very +rudely formed. No hair is shown. The face is very prognathous and the +nose broad and flat, not aquiline. The skirt is only slightly hooked +up. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXXIX. + + +Fig. 295.--Bronze plaque, head of horse, very much elongated. For the +elongation of a horse's head, see the figure of horse and rider in +Figs. 299 and 300. + +Figs. 296 and 297.--Bronze plaque, representing a cow's head, of +natural form and proportions, with a rope bound round the horns. + +Fig. 298.--Bronze plaque. A sinuous serpent, head downwards. Ground +ornamented with the usual foil ornament incised. + +Figs. 299 and 300.--Bronze man on horseback, holding a shield, with +barbed javelins, points downwards, on right arm. A band of crotals hung +over right shoulder. Sword on right side with European scabbard. The +dress is peculiar and formed with lappets on front and back. The horse +and rider are very attenuated and rudely executed. The horse tucked up +like a greyhound, with head very long, like Fig. 295. Band with crotals +round the horse's neck. Large flaws in the casting of both horse and +rider. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XL. + + +Fig. 301.--Bronze cock, the feathers represented by herring-bone +pattern. + +Figs. 302 and 303.--Elephant's tusk formed as a trumpet. The mouthpiece +on the convex side; with rattle. The loose pieces of the rattle carved +out of the solid, through the oblong apertures. Ornamented with +three bands of guilloche pattern; straight line diaper pattern, and +degenerate mud-fish interlaced, in two places. + +Figs. 304 and 305.--Portion of an iron staff, ornamented with bands of +bronze, on which are figured human faces, leopards' heads and bands of +looped strands, similar to those on Figs. 139 and 140, Plate XXIII. + +Fig. 306.--Thin brass head ornament for horse, and a broad band to +go along the top of the head and mane. The figure on the lower part +represents a crocodile, head downwards, ornamented with rows of copper +rivets. The band for the head is ornamented with a floral ornament +(floral guilloche) consisting of a sinuous stem with a leaf branching +out of each curve, similar to that shown on Figs. 209, 238 and 278. +The whole of the ornamentation is in repoussé work, and is probably +intended to be attached to leather. + +Figs. 307 and 308.--Lower portion of an iron staff, surrounded by bands +of brass, ornamented with leopards' heads, frogs, looped strands and +guilloche pattern. + +Fig. 309.--Square brass lamp, with four receptacles for wicks, one at +each corner. Ornamented with dots of repoussé work, and suspended by an +iron chain with long links and a hook. + +Figs. 310 to 313.--Bronze lamp, apparently with gold in its +composition. The basin patched and riveted with copper. The bands for +suspension ornamented with straight line diaper pattern (Fig. 312) and +broken guilloche pattern (Fig. 313), united at top in a human figure +(Fig. 311), having the private parts strongly pronounced. There are +only one or two objects in this collection in which this peculiarity +occurs, which is so prevalent in the art of most savages. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLI. + + +Figs. 314 to 316.--Wooden stool, the top slightly basin-shaped; the +stem carved to represent two interlaced serpents, but the interlacing +is not continuous, being broken by a square hole pierced through the +centre of the shaft. The heads of the serpents are conventional and +they bend towards the top and bottom on alternate sides. The tails of +the serpents terminate in the mouths of two frogs carved on the base +and underside of the top of the seat. A human figure is in the mouth +of the serpent resting on the base, holding a bill-hook in his left +hand, similar to Figs. 108 and 109, Plate XVIII. On the underside of +the seat, the serpent holds a leopard in its mouth; leopard holding +a palm branch in its mouth. The other figures carved on the base and +underside of the top are two degenerate mud-fish and two degenerate +elephants' heads, the proboscis terminating in a human hand, like Figs. +72 and 167. The seat is ornamented with an interlaced guilloche pattern +surrounding the top edge of the seat. + +Fig. 317.--Wooden plaque, ornamented in the centre by a coil of +interlaced strap-work, bounded by two lines of zigzag pattern. On one +side a broad leaf-shaped sword with a ring pommel, similar to Figs. 326 +and 327, Plate XLII, and Figs. 328 and 329, Plate XLIII. The handle is +ornamented with a straight line diaper pattern. On the other side is +represented an execution sword, similar to Fig. 110, Plate XVIII. + +Figs. 318 and 319.--Wooden seat, of oblong form, supported by four +legs, with cross-braces. All the ornamental portions are plated with +thin brass, beaten on and riveted. The top of the seat is ornamented in +the centre and ends by bands of single and double guilloche pattern, +and in the centre of the squares by a square pattern of interlaced +strands riveted on, similar to that represented on the blade of the +sword, Fig. 199, Plate XXVIII. The legs and sides of the seat are +ornamented by wheel-shaped forms, in eight places, and half-moons, +similar to those on the ground-work of the plaque, Fig. 180, Plate +XXVII. The stool in various parts is ornamented by brass-headed nails, +which might perhaps be European. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLII. + + +Figs. 320 and 321.--Wooden bird resembling a turkey. The inlaying of +the eyes has disappeared; the feathers are conventionally represented +by carved squares and lines of herring-bone pattern. On the top is a +rudely-cut vertical projection 5 inches high and 2-1/2 inches broad, +the meaning of which is unknown; and from it hangs on each side of +the bird, a broad band 3-1/2 inches broad, carved with four rows of +herring-bone pattern, the meaning of which is also unknown. The front +of the base is ornamented with a guilloche pattern of four strands. + +Fig. 322.--Circular brass fan, thickness of metal, .02 inch; ornamented +with bands of guilloche pattern, herring-bone, and straight line diaper +patterns. The handle is riveted to the fan. + +Fig. 323.--Fan of hide. The sewing of leather resembles that of the +brass fan, Fig. 322, Plate XLII. + +Figs. 324 and 325.--Bronze group of three human figures, the front +figure kneeling, the hands in an attitude of prayer. The upper part +naked, the lower part covered by a pleated kilt or skirt, similar to +Figs. 129, 235, 236, and 247. The corners of the eyes ornamented with +a raised barbed figure. A belt of two ropes round the waist with two +loops behind, in one of which hang two links of a chain. This figure +is attended behind by two short figures standing and armed with swords +in sheaths. Coral necklaces and anklets. Three tribal marks incised +over each eye. On the ground are three decapitated human heads, face +upwards, and a dog. The base is ornamented with coiled figures. + +Figs. 326 and 327.--Broad leaf-shaped iron sword, similar to Figs. 328 +and 329, Plate XLIII. The handle enclosed in a large ring of metal, +7 inches in diameter. The blade, which is .08 inch in thickness, is +perforated by a pattern of holes. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLIII. + + +Figs. 328 and 329.--Broad leaf-shaped iron sword, similar to Figs. 326 +and 327, Plate XLII. The handle enclosed in a large ring of metal, 8 +inches by 5-1/2 inches interior measurement, twisted in two places. +It has probably had a grip of wood, which has disappeared. The blade, +which is only ·06 inch in thickness, is ornamented with a pattern of +perforated holes. The use of this instrument is unknown; it may have +been an execution sword, but, if so, the ring-guard appears superfluous. + +Fig. 330.--Iron staff, similar to the bronze one, Figs. 354 and +355, Plate XLV. In the cluster at the top is the figure of a bird +surmounting an animal, probably a chameleon, similar to the one +half-way down the stem, and surrounded by a cluster of various +implements and weapons, points upwards, amongst which may be +distinguished a fork with diamond-shaped heads, a curved bill-hook, a +chisel, a spud and a reaping-hook. Below this are two clusters each of +six hanging bells; two sinuous snakes, heads upwards, are crawling up +the stem. + +Figs. 331 and 332.--Carved wooden board, 10-1/2 feet in length and 1 +foot 11 inches broad; from a house in Benin city. It is ornamented +with five panels in relief. Each panel has a circle with radiating +lines, bounded by lines of guilloche pattern. The several panels are +separated by broad bands of interlaced strap-work, deeply carved. The +interlaced strap-work varies in design, some being simply plaited, +and in others it is further complicated with twists and returns. Some +have two interlaced bands, others four. The carving is irregular and +traced by the eye without measure or T-square. Long sinuous snakes with +heads are represented in the smaller lines dividing the panels and give +the effect of a meander. The whole of the carving has originally been +covered with thin plates of brass or bronze beaten on, traces of which +are seen here and there fastened on with oblong rivets of metal. + +Figs. 333 to 335.--Round execution block and stand of wood, elaborately +carved with figures of men and animals. On the top is a pointed spike +of wood, 5 inches in height, on which the head of the victim appears +to have rested, and below this on the surface at the top of the block +are two receptacles for the thumbs of the victim, in the form of +coiled mud-fish. The ornamentation on the top consists of squares and +triangles filled with parallel straight lines alternating in direction, +and edged with a circle of broken guilloche pattern. On the sides are +three human figures, two of which are holding hands upwards, weapons +and shields, and one a curved sword of European form, point downwards. +Between these figures are two boxes or stools; there are also two human +hands and other objects on the other side. The bottom of the block is +surrounded by a broad guilloche pattern of four or five strands. The +stand on which the block stands is of semicircular form. The top is +ornamented with two animals, resembling crocodiles, conforming to the +outline of the curve, and other animals and objects. On the front of +this stand is a row of objects, consisting, in the centre, of a human +figure holding something on the abdomen, human hands, animals' heads, +and other objects. A very similar execution block, but without stand, +is shown in Figs. 258 to 260, Plate XXXIV. The barbarous carving and +ornamentation of such gruesome objects is quite characteristic of Benin +art. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLIV. + + +Fig. 336.--Wooden casket in the form of an ox's head, coated with thin +brass riveted on. From the forehead two human hands rise up holding the +horns. Along the forehead and along the sides are three lines of single +guilloche pattern in repoussé work. The pupils of the eyes are inlaid +with a dark substance. It appears to be a box or casket of some kind. +A similar box is shown in the hands of the small figure in plaque No. +18, Plate IV. A precisely similar object from Benin is figured by Mr. +Ling Roth in "The Studio," December, 1898, Fig. 18; and there is also +another similar in the British Museum, figured in "Antiquities from +Benin in the British Museum," Plate XI, Fig. 9. + +Fig. 337.--Half of a bronze circlet or necklet, similar to Fig. 158, +Plate XXV; ornamented with two human forms with attenuated bodies +and conventional heads, consisting of circles with five circular +punch-marks to represent the features, and two other similar heads +without bodies. The arms of these two figures are bound together at +the wrists. At the feet of these two extended figures are two human +heads of negro type, very well executed, and a leopard's head. It is +ornamented in other places by a broad leaf-shaped sword and spirals. +This remarkable work of savage art is shown in greater detail in the +annexed woodcut. + +Fig. 338.--Bronze sword, perhaps an execution sword, but rather too +small for that purpose; with wooden grip and pommel. The blade is +ornamented on both sides with incised semicircles and curved lines. The +cutting edge is on the convex side. + +Fig. 339.--Bronze sword, perhaps an execution sword, but rather too +small for that purpose; ornamented with incised semicircles, like +Fig. 338, and chevrons filled with parallel incised lines. The grip +ornamented with parallel incised bands in imitation of binding. The +blade is also ornamented with peculiar incised scrolls and circular +punch-marks, and diamond forms. + +Fig. 340.--Bronze pin, ornamented with four conventionalized birds. +Inlaid in various places with red agate, and ornamented with circular +punch-marks. + +Fig. 341.--Bronze bell or sistrum, with small bell attached; both +ornamented with an incised lozenge-shaped pattern. A similar double +bell, from Yoruba, is figured by Mr. Ling Roth in "The Reliquary," +1898, p. 165. + +Fig. 342.--Bronze figure of boy, with the palms of the hands erect and +open, as if denying having stolen anything. Serpent, head downwards, on +forehead. Three incised tribal marks over each eye. Coral necklace. + +Figs. 343 and 344.--Human mask, of bronze. The pupils of the eyes +inlaid with iron. + +Fig. 345.--Bronze leopard, tail deficient; total height, 15-1/4 inches. +One of the hind legs broken off and repaired by natives with a piece of +ivory. The leopard is covered with incised spots and small punch-marks +all over. The pupils of the eyes are inlaid with iron. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLV. + + +Fig. 346.--Quadrangular bronze bell, ornamented with mud-fish and a +human head in relief. It is reticulated on all sides and could have +emitted no sound. + +Fig. 347.--Quadrangular bronze bell, ornamented on one side by a +degenerate human face in relief. The ornamentation tastefully designed. + +Fig. 348.--Bronze cock, somewhat similar to Fig. 301, Plate XL. + +Fig. 349.--Brass armlet, made from one piece of thin metal, joined by +copper rivets. Ornamented by three naked human figures in relief, and +bands of interlaced rings. + +Figs. 350 and 351.--Bronze trumpet, slightly curved, the mouth-hole on +the convex side, similar in form to the ivory trumpets, Figs. 178, 192 +and 193. Projecting blades, like celts, on the large end, as in the +sistrum in Figs. 232 to 234, Plate XXXI. A somewhat similar instrument +is figured by Mr. Ling Roth in the "Halifax Naturalist," June, 1898, +p. 32. Above these blades is a human head in relief, surmounted by a +circular ring held in the mouth of a crocodile, head downwards. Other +parts are ornamented by sinuous snakes in relief. It appears to have +been used both as trumpet and axe. + +Figs. 352 and 353.--Bronze staff, probably intended to be held in the +middle. Ornamented at both ends with human figures back to back. The +stem ornamented with loops as in Figs. 208 and 209, Plate XXIX. + +Figs. 354 and 355.--Bronze staff, 4 feet 10-1/2 inches in length; +ornamented at top with the figure of a bird with a small ball in +its mouth, and apparently surmounting a leopard. Around it are ten +leaf-shaped flanges ornamented with sinuous serpents, holding birds and +crocodiles in their mouths. Below this is a human figure standing with +very large hands, apparently clasped, and thumbs projecting upwards, +out of all proportion to the size of the body; on the shoulders of this +figure are two sinuous snakes. Below this are figures representing a +monkey and a bull. The central figure is nude and kneeling with a +cock in its hands, resting on a cluster of hanging bells. The lower +part, which is broken and detached from the upper part, represents a +human figure; in his left hand a large neolithic celt, and in his right +hand a human-headed staff, similar in design to Figs. 279 and 280, +Plate XXXVI. Below and in front of this figure are smaller figures, +representing a human figure with a neolithic celt in the right hand +and a spotted leopard, with tail curled over head, on the left. Rising +from the head of the larger figure is an antelope, with two snakes +springing out of its mouth, surrounded by representations of various +weapons, points upwards. The whole appears to be constructed of bronze, +surrounding an iron stem. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLVI. + + +Figs. 356 and 357.--Bronze staff, surmounted by a vulture holding +something in its beak, as in Figs. 286 to 288, Plate XXXVII; Fig. 271, +Plate XXXV, and Figs. 354 and 355, Plate XLV. In Fig. 139, Plate XXIII, +and in "Antiquities from Benin in the British Museum," Plate XXIX, Fig. +3, figures are shown holding these staves and striking them with rods. + +Figs. 358 and 359.--Bronze seated figure, apparently of an European. +The dress has large buttons on one side. The hat, with brim, is +ornamented with chevrons filled with parallel straight lines; the +moustache very long; the nose aquiline and very large; the shoulders +guarded by "wings." Left hand and forearm broken. + +Fig. 360.--Bronze or brass plaque, representing a figure standing to +front, holding a piece of ring-money (Manilla) in right hand, similar +to Plate XXI, Fig. 6, "Antiquities from Benin in the British Museum," +where their use and form are discussed (p. 27). The dress has a single +row of buttons, somewhat similar to Fig. 247, Plate XXXII, where +however the coat is fastened with tags; the left hand is similarly +spread upon the chest. The face is prognathous, but with hooked nose. +The hat appears to be an European chimney-pot hat. Other cases of a +pleated kilt occur in Figs. 129, 235, 236, 247, 324, 325, and 361. + +Fig. 361.--Bronze plaque, representing a figure, seated, holding +apparently a hand-cannon in both hands, the butt of which is curved +down. The dress has buttons on one side, as in the previous figure, and +is surmounted by a vandyke ornamented collar of European type. Belt +and pleated kilt. Face, apparently European, aquiline nose. European +helmet. European sword with guard on right side. + +Fig. 362.--Iron axe, in carved wooden handle and shaft; with six wooden +human faces, the pupils of the eyes inlaid with lead. + +Figs. 363 and 364.--Iron hammer. + +Figs. 365 and 366.--Small human head in earthenware, being the only one +of that material in this collection. The pupils of the eyes are inlaid +with iron; two iron bands on the forehead, of which the traces have +nearly disappeared. Hole in top of head like those of bronze. Coral +choker. The features are well formed. + +Figs. 367 and 368.--Antelope's head, in bronze, with horns and ears. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLVII. + + +Figs. 369 to 371.--Bronze plaque, representing a sacrificial scene; it +contains eight human figures, and a bullock just in the act of being +slaughtered. All the figures except one have native features, dress, +etc., and wear the insignia of executioners. The remaining figure is +evidently intended to represent a European. + +Figs. 372 and 373.--A carved ivory box in the form of a mud or cat +fish. The eyes are inlaid with lead. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLVIII. + + +Figs. 374 and 375.--Bronze statuette of a musician in the act of +playing a wind instrument. He wears a pot hat, a collar, and loose +necklet hanging down over the chest, also armlets and wristlets. He +wears a decorated loin cloth, with a border representing a row of +feathers, and in the centre of the garment is a conventional leopard's +face. Height of statuette is 24-1/2 inches. + +Figs. 376 and 377.--Modern Benin sword; the blade is iron and decorated +with incised birds and a nondescript animal. There are seven brass +rivets hammered into the blade. The handle is covered with leather. +Length of blade, 17-3/4 inches. + +Figs. 378 and 379.--Is a copper weapon which has had a wooden shaft. +This weapon is of too soft a metal to be of much use. + +Figs. 380 and 381.--An iron weapon of an old make. The blade is +decorated with an incised figure of a snake. Length of blade, 21-1/8 +inches. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XLIX. + + +Figs. 382 and 383.--Cubical metal lamp, with handle, chain and hook +for suspension. The hook is ornamented at its lower half with raised +transverse incised lines and lozenge-shaped incisions. It is attached +to a chain of three links, the upper and lower ones being oval; the +middle one is 8-shaped. The other end of the chain is attached to a +loop which projects from the head of a nude human figure (length of +figure is 2-1/2 inches), the feet of which are fixed by a loop of +copper wire to the handle of the bar; the handle has a zigzag guilloche +pattern on the upper side. There is a human face in relief on the sides +of the body of the lamp, with fish-scale pattern on the groundwork. The +borders of the lamp are raised rope pattern, and have a double loop +knot at each corner. The lamp has four legs, and from the centre of the +bottom is a small round piece projecting, and not so long as the legs. +It is capped with a circular bottom, which is decorated with incised +concentric circles. Height from top of hook when suspended is 26 inches. + +Fig. 384.--Metal armlet, ornamented with five rows of inlaid copper +conventionalized cat-fishes and human faces; the latter have long hair, +long whiskers, and long noses. Height, 5-7/8 inches. + +Fig. 385.--Metal box, cylindrical in form, ornamented with three +longitudinal rows of ox skulls in relief, and incised human faces. +Height, 7 inches. + +Fig. 386.--Wooden comb, with carved design. + +Fig. 387.--Cast metal bowl. The small opening at the top is situated +in the centre of an incised rosette; this, together with four similar +but smaller rosettes, are coated with a copper wash. On the base is a +rosette within a circle. + +Fig. 388.--Cast metal bowl. Distributed over the body of the bowl are +eleven finely executed Maltese crosses. + +Fig. 389.--Quadrangular bronze bell, ornamented on three sides with +open reticulated work, framed in by a border of the guilloche pattern. +A conventional face, with long hair and beard, is on one of the +reticulated sides. Near the base of the ornamented side is a small +roughly circular hole. Height, 6 inches. + + + + +DESCRIPTION OF PLATE L. + + +Figs. 390 and 391.--Large metal bell. On one side is a human face in +relief, with snakes issuing from the nostrils. Each of the two snakes +grasps a mud or cat fish in its jaws. The ears project from the sides +of the head-dress, and the neck has a frill consisting of a double +row of perforated circles. The handle has an incised herring-bone +ornamentation. Projecting from the sides of the bell are eight knobs. +The base and crown of the bell have a border of strap-work pattern. +Height of bell, 10 inches. + +Figs. 392 and 393.--Carved wooden head, which may have been a mask. +Represents the head of a negro; it is hollow, and may have been +intended for a mask, as there are open slits underneath each eye. The +hair is represented by incised reticulated lines. The three black lines +over the eyes represent cicatrices. The lower part of the face is +rounded, and the chin not marked. Height, 13 inches. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + +There is no figure 136 in the printed book, and the "annexed woodcut" +referred to in the description of fig. 337 was not included. The +figures in "Figs. 265,6, Plate 35" on p. 46 were hand-written. + + +The following apparent errors have been corrected: + +p. 56 "Figs 192 and 193." changed to "Figs 192 and 193." + +p. 65 "Fig. 181 Plate XXVII" changed to "Fig. 181, Plate XXVII" + +p. 65 "Vol I" changed to "Vol. I" + +p. 70 "elephants's" changed to "elephant's" + +p. 74 "Fig. 282." changed to "Figs. 281 and 282." + +p. 94 "Figs 372 and 373" changed to "Figs. 372 and 373" + +p. 98 "Fig 385." changed to "Fig. 385." + + +The following possible errors have not been changed: + +p. iv conquerers + +p. 32 tattoed + +p. 42 rivetted + + +The following are used inconsistently in the text: + +a European and an European + +cat fish and cat-fish + +ground-work and groundwork + +Juju and Ju-ju + +mouthpiece and mouth-piece + +mudfish and mud-fish + +semicircles and semi-circles + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44014 *** |