FORKS AND SPOONS OF 

 NATIVE DESIGN 



The natives' instinctive desire for 

 artistic expression is evident not 

 only in tlieir houses, which are deco- 

 rated with various geometric de- 

 signs carried out in three colors, 

 depicting scenes from native life, 

 but also in the humblest objects; 

 oven knives and other articles 

 bought from traders are afterward 

 beautifully ornamented. 



These carved ivory spoons and 

 forks were presented to us by a 

 Congo artist as more suitable than 

 our simple camp implements. In his 

 enthusiasm he remarked that even 

 tliese elaborate models would be far 

 too simple and small for the king 

 should he eat in the presence of the 

 ordinary natives as most Europeans 

 do. Okondo's food, like that of any 

 liigh chief, was served in a hut to 

 which no one had access while he 

 ate, although on rare occasions his 

 councilors or relatives were invited, 

 when they, like all other natives, 

 used their fingers. Oil or peppery 

 sauce was much relished and was 

 dipped up in a piece of mush in 

 which the thumb had pressed a hol- 

 low. This took the place of a spoon 



Saza, a particularly skillful ivory carver, enjoys an easy chair introduced into the Congo by white 

 men and widely imitated by the natives. A wife and a helper are of great assistance in his work. On 

 the ground lie the numerous ivory chips cut with his adz. He was particularly fond of engraving 

 sketches of scenes from native life. He also eagerly copied in outline pictures from European maga- 

 zines of which he had a great store 



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