A DRUMMER BOY AND HIS AUDIENCE 



The drum is the principal instrument played at Congo dances. While the sounds pro- 

 duced by it cannot be called harmonious, they are loud and rhythmic. The drummer is a 

 man of some importance and the presents he receives for his performances constitute quite 

 a nice income. 



The beard, too, comes in for adornment ; 

 it is often fairly long, but it is bound up 

 under the chin, and pieces of clay are 

 hidden in the knot to make its bulk larger. 

 The eyebrows are usually shaved, as is 

 the moustache. 



Numerous ornaments are in use, but, 

 though the ears are pierced, earrings do 

 not seem to be worn. Combs, made of 

 wooden teeth bound together, serve the 

 double purpose of adorning the wearer 

 and providing a means of conveniently 

 scratching the head. Brass bracelets are 

 imported from Europe in great numbers, 

 and men sometimes wear iron bracelets 

 made in the country. Imported rings are 

 worn not only upon the fingers, but upon 

 the great toe, and beads are also worn by 

 both sexes. 



Certain forms of ornament are re- 

 served for men ; these include teeth, hu- 



man, leopard, or ape, the leopard teeth 

 being usually imitation. Small antelope 

 horns are worn round the neck, and these, 

 too, are imitated in tin. 



THEIR CODIES ORNAMENTED WITH SCARS 



Tattooing is rare, for the color of the 

 skin will not allow the pattern to appear 

 to advantage ; all that is done is to make 

 a quadrilateral on the arm with three or 

 four needles. Ornamental scars are more 

 elaborate. They rise above the surface 

 of the skin, owing to artificial retardation 

 of the healing process. Men have a line 

 running over the forehead from the out- 

 side corner of the eyes and a line across 

 the chest, more or less straight, about one 

 inch broad and often more than an inch 

 above the adjacent skin ; a lozenge pat- 

 tern decorates the navel. The lozenge 

 pattern is also usual with women, who 



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