Liberia ^ 



Egypt, whence it has now spread all over Negro Africa. The 

 boards which are made by the Vai are often cjuite beautiful as 

 works ot art. The upper part, with the small pools for the 

 reception ot the counters, is carved as a detached plank from the 

 body ot the shaped stand into which it fits. The substance is 

 some rather hard white wood which is coloured with a deep 



398. WOMAN CARDING COTTON 



black dye, and this dye is removed in patterns, leaving a very 

 decorative chequer ot black and white. 



The bodies ot drums are also carved out of solid blocks 

 of wood. There are long wooden trumpets fashioned in imita- 

 tion (so far as shape is concerned) of the elephant tusks trom 

 which the older trumpets were made. 



For such purposes, long and fairly straight elephant 

 tusks are still employed. The Mandingo of the interior prob- 



1012 



