42 



SECOND FLOOR, WEST WING 



fishing is accomplished by putting poison into the water to stupifythe fish 

 which are then gathered in the hands by hundreds. 



These primitive people of the Congo display remarkable skill in working 

 iron, as an examination of their weapons of war and of the chase will show. 

 Wood-carving, weaving, and spinning are done by the men; pottery is 

 made by the women. Musical instruments are numerous. An exhibition 

 of bronze and brass castings, a craft among the Benin and unheard of before 

 1897, is in the north end of the hall. Many of these bronzes portray cul- 

 tural traits. This method of casting was employed in Europe in the Renais- 

 sance period. How old the art may he and how much of it is really native 

 is a question. 



Bark cloth, shown in some of the cases, is used for bed mats and clothing. 

 In the case at the south end of the Congo collections are a number of so- 



MULANDI CARVED STICKS. AFRICA 



Wood carving is a highly developed art in South-centra) Africa and the Congo. 

 The carving on those knob-sticks represents great power of finish and execution 



called "pile blankets" which the men weave and the women decorate. 



The countless number of knives, spears and warlike implements is 

 suggestive of the manner in which these people live; they are never certain 

 of not being attacked. They make few permanent things and store up 

 little food in time of plenty. 



Fetish worship is common. Some of these fetishes are supposed to give 

 security in battle or to ward off ills. The ceremonial masks of which a great 

 number are on exhibition, arc owned and worn mostly by the shamans or 

 priests. Ancestor worship is found among some tribes. 



Return to the astronomical clod:.] 



