14^ SJiells (xs evidence of the Migrations. 



on the western shore of Lake Tanganyika, they were seen 

 by Richard as head-ornaments or sewn on straps ; he also 

 observed them in use by the NoUo Nollo, h'vnng north 

 thereof, to ornament the forehead, neck and wrist ; in 

 the latter case, two shells were worn attached to the 

 middle of a thin strap, probably an amulet of some kind. 

 Among the VVarua of the Upper Congo similar ornaments 

 were noticed."'' 



On the middle Congo cowries are a recognised cur- 

 rency about Lukolela, Xgowe, Matumba Lake, etc., being 

 used by the Balolo people. On the Mongalla, Thonner, 

 in 1896, found cowries the necessar)' legal tender for con- 

 tinuing his journey up the river and for the purchase of 

 food-stuffs. Wissmann, Wolf, and other travellers found 

 them highly estimated in the Kassai-Sankuru basin. 

 According to Wolf, in 1885, these shells together with a 

 black and white striped glass bead were used as barter- 

 material by the Baluba people of this region."'' 



In the Lunda Empire, the wooden plug set with 

 cowries at both ends, which the Wavira wear in their ears, 

 is hung by a string from the neck as an amulet."" 



According to Mag}-ar, cloth in Kimbundaland, about 

 1850, was reckoned at from 25 to 50 cowri:?s, or busio- 

 shells, per ell or )'ard, according to the distance from the 

 coast ; and this same observer tells us that the women of 

 the Alondumbe, inwards from Benguela, ornament their 

 hair with small white cowries {C. nwneia ? Oliva P)."" 



In describing the Ovambo, Ratzel (0/'. eit., ii., p. 541) 

 informs us that the\' barter ivory for beads, iron, copper, 

 shells, and cowries, with the Portuguese-si)eaking black 

 traders on the further side of the Cunene River. Such 



'^ Schucidei, ('/. (//., VMiimis pai^es. 



■*" Ratzel, o/'. cil., iii., p. 69. 



-■* .Schneider, op. lil.. pj). 159 and 172. 



