+ Anthropology : Physical 



Besides mortars of various si/cs (tiny ones are made of 

 wood or of ivory for grinding snuff), the native Liherians make- 

 wooden scabbards (sometimes covered with leather) for swords, 

 small wooden stools to sit on, and large benches ; the framework 

 of beds (amongst the Vai), and a variety of pots and dishes, 

 some of these bein^ obviously modelled on European patterns 

 in earthenware. The /></, MandingC^ and Kpne^i people can 



397. NATIVE IIAKI', SWOKI), AM) S< AHIJAUD, AM) MANDINGO WOODEN PLATES, 

 FROM NORTH-WESTERN LIBERIA 



fashion, carve, ornament, and beautify the long boards with 

 short legs, on which they play the game of po. These boards 

 are scooped out into a number of parallel holes wherein beans or 

 other counters can be placed. This game, which is called po 

 in many parts of Liberia, is the familiar bao of Eastern (Bantu) 

 Africa. It is apparently akin in meaning and origin to back- 

 gammon, and was originally introduced (it is thought) from 



ion 



