WEST WING 



Collections From Africa 



♦CaUph" 



Opening to the north from this haU of North American Archaeology 

 is the African Hall. This differs from other halls in containing besides 

 ethnographical specimens a nmnber of characteristic African mammals. 

 The future extension of the Museum will provide room for groups of 

 African mammals, including elephants. The installation is geograph- 

 ical, i. e., as the visitor proceeds through the hall from south to north 

 he meets the tribes that would be found in passing from south to north 

 of Africa, and the west coast is represented along the west wall, the 

 east coast along the east wall. 



The hippopotamus is the famous ^'Caliph," who hved for twenty 

 years in the Central Park Zoo and died when nearly 

 forty years old. He was the largest hippopotamus 

 ever recorded. 



The central portion of the hall is given over to the anthropology of the 

 Congo, the collections being largely the gift of Leopold II. 

 P ,, . of Belgium. The decorative frieze is designed to give an 



idea of the character of the country and again the arrange- 

 ment of the panels is geographical. The window transparencies show^ 

 scenes of the daily life of the people, the thatched houses in which they 

 live, the games they play and the clothes they wear. The South African 

 negro is essentially an agriculturist; both men and women plant and hoe. 

 Maize, millet, rice, beans, sweet potatoes and pumpkins are among the 

 products. 



Hunting is no longer common, although among some of the tribes, 

 they set traps for leopards and lions and hunt the hippopotamus. In one 

 tribe fishing is accomphshed by putting poison into the water to stupefy 

 the fish which are then gathered in the hands by hundreds. 



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