270 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.40. 



PI. 20, fig. 1. Cat. No. 261866, U.S.N.M. 



B e ]l, — Of silver, cast and highly polished. The bell is of excellent 

 shape and tone and is reputed to have belonged to the former King 

 of Godjam. The handle is of red morocco leather. 



Diameter, 1J inches; height, 2 inches. 



PL 20, fig. 2. Cat. No. 261865, U.S.N.M. 



UTENSILS OF WOOD AND HORN. 



Drinking cup. — Turned from a single piece of rhinoceros horn. In 

 this respect it differs from ordinary specimens, which have inserted 

 bottoms. Such cups are usually presented to subjects who have 

 met with his favor by the Emperor of Abyssinia. 



Diameter, 3f inches; height, 3| inches. 



PI. 20, fig. 3. Cat. No. 261844, U.S.N.M. 



Wooden cup. — Turned from hard yellow wood, polished; deco- 

 rated with turning grooves which have been colored red and black 

 and bands between the grooves relieved by small depressions. The 

 foot has three perforations corresponding to similar perforations in 

 the cover, designed for passage of the cords securing the parts together 

 as well as forming a handle for carrying. Mr. Philip states that : 



It is used for preserving the national Abyssinian hairdressing and perfume, which 

 is oil derived from rancid butter. 



Diameter, 3* inches; height, 5 inches. 

 PL 20, fig. 4. Cat. No. 261873, U.S.N.M. 



PICTORIAL ART. 



Triptych.— Folding triptych of wood covered with paper, the 

 leaves closing into the frame on leather hinges like a Byzantine eikon. 

 The central larger picture represents the Virgin and Child seated on 

 a terraced throne, guarded at the upper right and left corners by the 

 archangels Gabriel and Michael with drawn swords. On the upper 

 left hand leaf is represented St. George mounted on a white horse 

 slaying a dragon. On the opposite side stands Tekla Haimanout, 

 patron saint of Abyssinia, a one-legged, winged man of patriarchal 

 aspect. The lower figures represent groups, apparently of suppliants. 

 The colorings are most vivid and crude, the backgrounds of yellow 

 and the figures in purple, yellow, red, and green. The style of art 

 is Byzantine. 



Length, 20 J inches; width, 15 inches. 



PL 21. Cat. No. 261847, U.S.N.M. 



Religious painting. — Executed in thick guache on coarse muslin. 

 The colors are primitive red, blue, green, and yellow, the drawing 

 and treatment archaic, suggesting Egyptian and Byzantine influences. 



The subject is the coronation of Mary; to the right the Father 

 grasping the world, to the left the Son carrying the cross, each 



