Use of Cowry-shells for Currency, Amutlets, etc. 147 
of value.” Schweinfurth also depicts a fashion in hair 
among the Monbuttus, by which the head is surrounded 
with a regular saint’s halo. The hair, in plaits, is spread 
out round the whole head and fastened to a hoop adorned 
with cowry-shells.” 
The Wavira of the upper Ituri wear in their ears a 
wooden plug with cowries at both ends; this object is in 
the Lunda Empire an amulet hung by a string from the 
neck.“ Cowries were also seen by Junker used as orna- 
ments’ by the Bagarambo on the Welle River. And 
Thonner reports cowries in common use by the Mog- 
wandi north of the upper Dua and by the neighbouring 
races ; by the Mobali in the hair, and by a Banza man 
from Bogola as a neck-chain. On the middle and upper 
Ubangi and on the Welle to its source cowries pass current 
as money ; they are also in use as such by the Basoko 
inhabiting the region of the Congo between Stanley Falls 
and the Aruwimi confluence. In 1886 Lenz saw them 
used for ornament by the Nkaia at Riba Riba above the 
Stanley Falls, as well as in other places. According to 
Johnston cowries were made use of as small-change 
everywhere on the Upper Congo. Large numbers of them 
were placed in the graves with the dead. In Nyangwe 
they were in use along with other objects of barter in 
Livingstone’s (1871), Cameron’s (1874), Stanley’s (1876) 
and Pogge’s time, and often served as presents for the 
chiefs and for purchasing necessary articles of food in the 
districts through which these and other travellers passed. 
In Uhombo, between the Congo and Lake Tanganyika, 
they were the current money in Stanley’s time. At Mpala, 
82 Jbid., p. 173 ; and Schweinfurth, “ The Heart of Africa,” London, 
1873, vol. i., p. 299; il., p. 9. 
83 Ratzel, of. cit., iii., p. 69; Schweinfurth, of. cz¢., 11., p. 7 (Text- 
figure). 
S=) Ratzels) op.) G2re, 111.4) poe 
