128 REPORT OF THE HARVARD AFRICAN EXPEDITION 
owing to their clay and cement-like structure, are particularly suitable for the 
purpose. Such articles particularly as knives, arrows and spearheads, brace- 
lets, anklets, rings, and heads for hoes are made. Some work is also done with 
silver, especially the manufacture of silver ornaments for women, hairpins, 
bracelets and rings. Small amounts of both silver and copper are imported for 
this use from the adjacent countries. The Mandingoes manufacture attrac- 
tive articles of leather, such as scabbards for swords, sheathes for knives, 
belts, and basket covers. They are the most attractive articles that the natives 
manufacture. They are rare, however, and not easily purchased. Pottery is 

No. 86. — Liberian woven cloth 
still made by a number of the tribes inhabiting those regions where suitable 
clay abounds. Along the coast the making of pottery has become a lost art. 
Here the inhabitants chiefly use imported iron pots and vessels of coarse earthen 
ware, and these articles are gradually finding their way into the interior. The 
women make most of the pottery. They mould the vessels of clay, dry them 
in the sun and bake them in red hot ashes from wood fires. Small vessels for in- 
dividual use, and larger ones holding several litres, are manufactured. Gourds are 
often employed as receptacles. Cut in halves they are used as ladles or cups, 
or, cleaned out and preserved intact, are employed as bottles. Some of them 
are ornamented with black and white work and carved with various designs, 
particularly of animals. Somewhat skillful wood carving is done by the men. 
A great many spoons of various shapes and sizes are made. The wooden mortars 
