MALLERY. ] MESSAGE STICKS. 371 
ing the country which they had traversed and the places where they had camped 
each night. 
The Queenslanders did not give Drs. Houzé and Jacques such a long 
translation of their message sticks, but they informed them that one of 
the sticks related to the crossing from Australia into America, which is 
recounted by Tambo, the author of the message. An illustration of it 
is presented on p. 93 of the above cited work of Houzeé and Jacques, but 
is not sufficiently distinct for reproduction. 
WEST AFRICAN AROKO. 
G. W. Bloxam ()) says of the aroko, or symbolic letters, used by the 
tribe of Jebu, in West Africa, describing Fig. 478: 
This is a message from a native general of the Jebu force to a native prince 
abroad. It consists of six cowries. Six in the Jebu language is E-fa, which is de- 
rived trom the verb fa, to draw. They are ar- 
ranged two and two, face to face, on a long string; 
the pairs of cowries set face to face indicate friendly 
feeling and good fellowship; the number expresses 
a desire to draw close to the person to whom the 
message is sent [note the rebus]; while the long 
string indicates considerable distance or a long 
road. This is the message: ‘‘ Although the road . 
between us be very long, yet I draw you to myself Fig. 478.—West African aroko. 
and set my face towards you. So I desire you to set your face towards me and 
draw to me.” 
On p. 298 he adds: 
Among the Jebu in West Africa odd numbers in their message are of evil import, 
while even numbers express good will. Thus a single cowrie may be sent as an un- 
favorable answer to a request or message. 
The same author writes, on p. 297, describing Fig. 479: 
It is a message from His Majesty Awnjale, the King of Jebu, to his nephew abroad ; 
and here we find other substances besides cowries included in the aroko. Taking 
Fic. 479.—West African aroko. 
the various articles in order, commencing from the knot, we observe four cowries 
facing in the same direction, with their backs to the knot; this signifies agreement. 
Next a piece of spice, a, which produces when burnt a sweet odor and is never un- 
pleasant; then come three cowries facing in the same direction; then a piece of mat, 
