no. 1819. THE PHILIP ABYSSINIAN COLLECTION— HOUGH. 275 



Horse bell. — Worked from a strip or bar of iron, the method pursued 

 being to beat out the metal into broad wings, leaving only a short por- 

 tion of the bar at the middle in its original size. The two wings are 

 then bent together until nearly in contact and curved over, forming 

 a conical shell. Around the loop of the bell passes a heavily braided 

 neck yoke of leather ornamented with spirals of iron wire wound 

 around divided portions of the braiding. The clapper is a rod of 

 iron fastened by a ring to the leather yoke. The bell is remarkably 

 loud and sonorous. ' 'It is made and used by Shangalla Ab3 T ssinians, 

 and is important to some tribesmen in case of war and as an ordinary 

 cattle bell to keep off wild animals." — (Information given by Mr. 

 Philip.) This form of bell is widespread in Africa. 



"Shangalla (Shankilla) are negroes who live along all the western 

 slopes of the Abyssinian plateau above the plains of Senaar." ' 



Diameter, 4 h inches; height, 5 inches. 



PI. 32. Cat" No. 261876, U.S.N.M. 



The coinage of Ab} T ssinia is based on the Austrian thaler of Maria 

 Theresa, a large number of which, bearing the date of 1780, having 

 been sent out as trade money and passing current in Abyssinia, be- 

 came the model for the issues of Menelek. 



The coins collected by Mr. Philip consist of: 



One Maria Theresa thaler, 1780; diameter, 40.5 mm. (Fig. 6.) 



One Menelek thaler, silver. (Fig. 3.) 



Obverse: Portrait head of Menelek, crowned. Inscription, "Mene- 

 lek II, King of Ethiopia." 



Reverse: Crowned lion carrying cross standard with pennants. 

 Inscription: "The Lion of Judah Conquered." (Apocalypse. 5.) 

 On the edge is an inscription of which the word "Habesh," mean- 

 ing Abyssinia or Ethiopia can be made out. Date, 1875. Diameter, 

 39.5 mm. The coin is 1 mm. less in diameter than the Maria Theresa 

 thaler, but, being slightly thicker, weighs the same. The series 

 appears to have been coined in England. 



One-half Menelek thaler, silver. This coin is uniform with the 

 thaler in design and inscription. Date, 1889. Diameter, 30.5 mm. 

 Milled edge. (Fig. 1.) 



One-fourth Menelek thaler, silver. Date, 1889. Diameter, 2.55 mm. 

 Milled edge. (Fig. 4.) 



One-twentieth Menelek thaler. Date, 1871. Diameter, 16.0 mm. 

 Milled edge. (Fig. 5.) 



One one-hundredth Menelek thaler, brass. 



Obverse: Portrait head of Menelek with same inscription as on 

 the thaler. Beneath the head, in very small letters, is "Lagrange." 



1 Keane, Stanford's Compendium, Africa, Vol. 1, p. 484, 1895. 



