The Use of Cowry-shells for the Purposes of 

 Currency, Amulets, and Charms. 



Of the nian\- varieties of shells used for currency and 

 as ainulets, the most familiar and extensively employe<l 

 are the cowries, especially the mone\'-co\vr\- (Cj'pma 

 iiioiicta ) and the ring-cowry (Cypnen aiuiiilns) {Figs. 

 A & />, p. 1 56) The small size, shape, and substance of the 

 latter renders them peculiarly adapted for use as money. 

 and no other species of shell or form of shell-money has hafl 

 so wide-spread and general use. The}' are distinguished b\' 

 the fact that they can be and are used In a natural state, 

 most other forms of shell-money being made from portions 

 of larger species. Though known to science under two dis- 

 tinct names, the difference between the two forms is so 

 slight that by some authorities the}- are considered as 

 merel}- the extremes of one variable mollusc' P)Oth forms 

 are inhabitants of Indo-Pacific seas, and the specimens 

 used as currenc}- are derived mainly from the I'ersian 

 Gulf, Maldive Islands, Cexlon, the IMalabar Coast, the 

 Sooloo Islands (between the Philippines and 13orneo), and 

 other ICast Indian Islands ; also from various parts of the 

 East .African coast, ranging from Kas llafun (near the 



' Melvill and St.indcn,y<7/^/v/. c/ Concholo:^y, i\., 1S99, p. 2 j6 : S. K 

 I\<>l)eils. "Monograph of the Family Cypraid;!.'/' in Tryon's "Manual uf 



CoiioholofTy," vol. vii., 1S85, p. I/Q. 



