Use of Cowry-shells for Currency, Amulets, etc. 163 



ployed by the Jebu tribe of the west coast. The shells 

 are strung together in varying numbers, odd numbers, as 

 a rule, being of evil import, while even numbers express 

 good will. A single cowry may be sent as an unfavour- 

 able answer to a request or message. In some cases other 

 substances besides cowries are included in the aroko or 

 symbolic letters. Thus we find pieces of spice, a piece of 

 mat, and a feather, introduced for the purpose of convey- 

 ing some significant idea. (See Fig. A, p. 162). 



This method of employing cowries for the purpose of 

 conveying certain ideas is of interest in connection with 

 discoveries made in Egypt of knotted cords with the same 

 cowries, papyrus charm pendants, uzat eyes, etc., attached. 

 Several of these cords are figured by Petrie 119 in his book 

 on " Amulets," all from Kafr Ammar, xxiii-xxvth dynast}'. 

 He places the objects among amulets for protection and 

 says no explanation of their meaning is known in Egypt. 

 (See Figs. /> & C, p. 162.) 



The history of the cowry in Africa may be concluded 

 with a few remarks on its use in Benin and about the 

 lower Niger. Dennett, speaking of the customs of the 

 Bini, 1 - informs us that " the people swear by licking and 

 touching stones, iron, cowries, bits of twisted rope, and the 

 crushed leaves of a plant, asking these things to kill them 

 if they are not telling the truth." According to the same 

 authority, every great house has an altar to Olukun the 

 river spirit of Olukun or Great Benin river in or near to 

 which is a pot of water, cowries (Igo) and a heap of other 

 objects. At Ewesi, not far from the Sobo plains, is a 

 temple to Olukun, in which are very old wooden figures 

 (like those into which nails are driven in the CongoJ 

 covered with cowries and other objects. In front of the 



119 \V. M. Flinders Petrie, "Amulets," London, 1914, p. 29, No. 131, 

 pi. xvii. xix. 



120 K. E. Dennett, op. cit., p. 193. 



