22 Jackson. Use of Cowry-shells for Currency, Amulets, etc. 



quantity of that species called nauplius.") " It may, 

 however, be a different commodity." As cowries are an 

 article of commerce on this coast to-day, the suggestion 

 naturally presents itself of interpreting the term as a 

 reference to shells (? cowries) intended for ornament. 



In Uganda, cowries have been a recognised form of 

 currency from an early date. According to the Rev. John 

 Roscoe, 70 the standard of currency among the Baganda 

 was set by the value of the cow. During the reign of 

 Suna, he tells us, a cow was sold for 2,500 cowry-shells ; 

 a goat for 500 ; a fowl for 25 ; a large cock for 50 ; and 

 an ivory tusk weighing sixty-two pounds was valued at 

 i.ooo cowry-shells 71 . Cooking-pots were priced according 

 to size ; a large pot was sold for 200 cowries, small ones 

 for 20 or 30 cowries. A milk-pot cost 60 or even 1 00 

 cowries ; a tobacco pipe from 5 to 10 shells ; and a water- 

 pot from 40 to 50 shells. 71 ' " Before the introduction of 

 cowry-shells," Roscoe informs us, "a blue bead (nsinda) 

 was used ; this was very rough and badly made, but it 

 was considered to be of great value ; one bead was of 

 equal value with one hundred cowry-shells. Still earlier, 

 before the introduction of the bead, a small ivory disc 

 was used, known as sanga ; one of these discs was valued 

 at one hundred cowry-shells. When the cowry-shell was 

 first introduced, which was probably in the reign of King 

 Semakokiro, two cowry-shells would purchase a woman." ' 

 By these same people cowry-shells have also been used 

 from the first in religious and other ceremonies. One 

 of the many interesting uses, mentioned by Roscoe, 

 is their employment in the decoration of an amulet 

 called Luzalo, which partakes of the nature of a fetish, 



7 " Roscoe, "The Baganda," London, 191 1. 



7 1 Ibid. . p. 456. 



'- Ibid., p. 455. 



'■'• Ibid., p. 457. 



