A FORMER PATRON OF ARTS IN THE CONGO 



Three hundred and eighty pieces of carved ivory were gathered by The American Museum Congo 

 Expedition. Many of these had been the treasure of Okondo, King of the Mangbetu, and others 

 were made by artists of Mangbetu or Azande origin, and are now on exhibition in the American Mu- 

 seum. Okondo looked most spectacular in his dancing costume, which he always discarded immedi- 

 ately after the performance. His unusually dark torso was girded by stiff. Havana-brown bark cloth, 

 held in place by belts especially consecrated. Graceful plumes of dark eagle and red parrot feathers 

 crowned him impressively. A necklace of white beads, bunches of wart-hog bristles, skins of the 

 lemur, and a strap of okapi hide denoted royalty and supposedly endowed him with occult powers. 

 To him a dance meant the heroic effort of a star performer, and his endurance, agility, and display 

 of splendor were famed abroad by hundreds of admiring subjects 



