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Proceedings of the Pooycd Society 
ployed are — knife, axe, and a kind of plane. Fire is also used to 
hollow out wood and to harden it. 
Smelting . — A hut or shed is set apart for carrying on smelting 
operations, several men working in the same hut. A number of 
fires are kept going, and the bellows are used as follows: — A large 
earthenware howl with a hole at the side near the bottom is 
placed near the fire, and a clay pipe is constructed from this hole to 
the fire. The top of the bowl is covered with a soft skin, in the 
middle of which a hollow stick is fastened. This stick being 
moved up and down, and the top being closed by a finger when 
moving down, causes the draught. The anvils and hammers used 
are of iron, the hammer being flat in shape. They are thus a little 
in advance of the surrounding tribes, who only use stone. Some 
few stone anvils and hammers are, however, still in use in the 
Madi tribe. Very good knives, hoes, and bracelets are constructed, 
as well as arrow-heads. 
The smelting furnaces are conical in form, and about 5 feet high, 
layers of iron ore and charcoal being placed alternately. Six pairs 
of bellows are often used, each man working two, one with each 
hand. There is not very much beer drinking during the smelting, 
but a good deal of singing, the men working in time to the song. 
Eelays of men work at this tedious operation. 
Baslcet WorTc . — The manufacture of baskets is carried on largely. 
Various shapes and sizes are constructed of open wickerwork ; 
they are made by men much after our own manner. 
Baskets of dhurra stalks are woven by women in the following 
way : — The pulp is removed, the stalks opened out flat and cut into 
the requisite lengths. The bottom of the basket is first made, and 
the sides worked up from it, being woven very close. Some kinds of 
baskets are so closely made that they will hold milk, and small ones 
are made to serve as cups on a journey, as they are lighter than 
earthenware, and less fragile than gourds. The shapes vary, being 
round, square, or otherwise, and of different colours, according to 
the kind of dhurra stalk used. Sometimes the various colours are 
blended. Women also make baskets of young doleb palm leaves. 
Pots are covered by a loose wickerwork for carrying. Spring baskets 
are made by men. They are chiefly used for ornamental purposes, 
and not of much practical use. 
