BANTU NEGROES 



663 



preceded goldsmiths' work in early days, and have been imitated by the 

 goldsmiths subsequently. The Baganda will make necklaces composed of 

 links of palm rind fitting one into the other, and resulting in a chainwork 

 of extraordinary suppleness and finish. 



The Baganda make mats of three kinds ordinarily. In the Sese 

 Islands bundles of papyrus stalks are roughly fastened with bast string. 

 The result is a soft mat of great springiness and by no means of ugly 

 appearance, as the dry papyrus fades to a pleasing grey-green. Elsewhere 

 in Uganda very finely-plaited mats are made, the finest form of all being 



wF 



372. UGANDA POTTERY |A MILKPOT AND TOBACCO PIPES) AND AN UGANDA FLUTE 



something like the Swahili " mikeka," which is varied by charming 

 patterns of different coloured dyes. The material out of which most of 

 the finer mats are made is the fibre derived from the fronds of the 

 Phi/mix or raphia palms. The Baganda make excellent ropes, almost 

 good enough for exportation ; also string of various degrees of fineness. 

 The rope is generally made from the fibre of a species of Hibiscus, of 

 Sanseviera, and of the bast of raphia and date palms. The string is 

 made of various kinds of bast or hemp. 



Leather is dealt with successfully in the making of sandals, and 

 occasionally of caps, boxes, or the tops of drums. Skins of wild beasts 



VOL. IT. 13 



