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of the basket, which is always flat, is first made and the sides are 
worked up from it. Dliurra stalks, palm leaves, and the bark of 
trees are used for basket making. The baskets are never painted; 
they vary in colour according to the kind of material used. Good 
and pliant mats are also made, and some of the patterns are very 
nice. Trays and open baskets are constructed for food, and it is 
protected by ornamented covers of tasteful and fanciful patterns, 
and invariably round. 
Ta lining . — -As soon as animals have been skinned, the skins are 
scraped and then put into water in which oknn (the bark of a tree) 
has been mixed. After several days they are taken out, scraped 
again with iron knives, and afterwards pegged out under the shade of 
a tree or under a shed made for the purpose ; they are then rubbed 
and beaten with flat stones. At times they are also rubbed with butter. 
Pottery .* — The jars and pots constructed by the Fors are of fairly 
good quality. They are chiefly made by the women, and no potters’ 
wheel is used. After the clay has been freed from stones and lumps 
it is beaten with heavy stones, and water is added to bring it to a 
proper consistence. A ball of this dough is then made, large 
enough to form the bottom of a jar, which is then moulded by a 
series of stone or solid clay-blocks being pressed into the soft 
clay; rings of clay are then added to form the sides of the jar and 
it is smoothed by the hands. Sometimes they ornament the pots; 
plait, cross lines, and herring bone patterns are alone used, and are 
formed by a sharp-pointed stick. 
The pottery is burnt in a large hole dug in the ground in which 
the pots are placed, and which is then covered by a framework of 
wood strewn with earth. Over this a large fire is made and kept 
up for a day or two. Small images of men and cattle are made in 
clay as toys. 
Dyeing . — I was unable to gain any information on this point, but 
I know that red, black, blue, and dirty green dyes are made. The 
black is called dego and is procured from the bark of a tree named 
pedan. The red is known as puchi from a plant called klutu. 
Music . — The Fors are very fond of music, and have several 
musical instruments, which they play with more or less proficiency. 
They have drums of various sizes — some so large as to form a good 
load for a man, others of smaller calibre. Each village has a collec- 
