which includes the more than #djj       
original illustrations4       ,see      
#ddjad-;h4htm or #ddjad-;h4zip3         
7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu
b_/#ddjad_/pg#ddjad-;images4html7       
or                                      
7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#dd
jad_/ddjad-;h4zip7         ,images of   
the original pages are available through
       ,internet ,archive_/,canadian    
,libraries4 ,see                        
http3_/_/archive4org_/details_/antiquewo
rksofar#jjpittuoft      ,,antique       
,,works ,,of ,,art ,,from ,,benin1      
,collected by  ,,lieutenant-,,general   
,,pitt ,,rivers1 ,d4,c4,l41 ,f4,r4,s41  
,f4,s4,a4  ,inspector of ,ancient       
,monuments in ,great ,britain1 c4       
,printed ,privately4 #aijj4  ,london3   
,harrison and ,sons1 ,printers in       
,ordinary to her ,majesty1 ,st4         
,martin's ,lane1 ,w4,c4     ,,works ,,of
 ,,art ,,from ,,benin1  ,,west ,,africa4
  ,,obtained ,,by ,,the ,,punitive      
,,expedition ,,in #ahig1 ,,and ,,now    

,,in ,,general ,,pitt ,,rivers',s       
,,museum ,,at ,,farnham1 ,,dorset4      
,benin is situated on the ,guinea       
,coast1 near the mouth of the ,niger1 in
 latitude #fab north1 and longitude #e  
to #f east4  ,it was discovered by the  
,portuguese at the end of the fourteenth
 or commencement of the fifteenth       
centuries4 ,the ,portuguese were        
followed by the ,dutch and ,swedes1 and 
in #aeec the first ,english expedition  
arrived on the coast1 and established a 
trade with the king1 who received them  
willingly4  ,benin at that time appears 
by a ,dutch narrative to have been quite
 a large city1 surrounded by a high     
wall1 and having a broad street through 
the centre4 ,the people were            
comparatively civilized4 ,the king      
possessed a number of horses which have 
long since disappeared and become       
unknown4 ,faulkner1 in #ahbe1 saw three 
solitary horses belonging to the king1  
which he says no one was bold enough to 
ride4  ,in #agjb a ,dutchman1 named     

,nyendaeel1 describes the city1 and     
speaks of the human sacrifices there4   
,he says that the people were great     
makers of ornamental brass work in his  
day1 which they seem to have learnt from
 the ,portuguese4 ,it was visited by    
,sir ,richard ,burton1 who went there to
 try to put a stop to human sacrifices1 
at the time he was consul at ,fernando  
,po4 ,in #ahib it was visited by        
,captain ,h4 ,l4 ,galloway1 who speaks  
of the city as possessing only the ruins
 of its former greatness2 the abolition 
of the slave trade had put a stop to the
 prosperity of the place1 and the king  
had prohibited any intercourse with     
,europeans4 ,the town had been reduced  
to a collection of huts1 and its trade  
had dwindled down to almost nil4 ,the   
houses have a sort of impluvium in the  
centre of the rooms1 which has led some 
to suppose that their style of          
architecture may have been derived from 
the ,roman colonies of ,north ,africa4  
,in #ahif an expedition1 consisting of  

some #bej men1 with presents and        
merchandise1 left the ,british          
settlements on the coast1 and           
endeavoured to advance towards ,benin   
city4 ,the expedition was conducted with
 courage and perseverance1 but with the 
utmost rashness4 ,almost unarmed1       
neglecting all ordinary precautions1    
contrary to the advice of the           
neighbouring chiefs1 and with the       
express prohibition of the ,king of     
,benin to advance1 they marched straight
 into an ambuscade which had been       
prepared for them in the forest on each 
side of the road1 and as their revolvers
 were locked up in their boxes at the   
time1 they were massacred to a man with 
the exception of two1 ,captain          
,boisragon and ,mr4 ,locke1 who1 after  
suffering the utmost hardships1 escaped 
to the ,british settlements on the coast
 to tell the tale4  ,within five weeks  
after the occurrence1 a punitive        
expedition entered ,benin1 on #ahth     
,january1 #ahig1 and took the town4 ,the

 king fled1 but was afterwards brought  
back and made to humiliate himself      
before his conquerers1 and his territory
 annexed to the ,british crown4  ,the   
city was found in a terrible state of   
bloodshed and disorder1 saturated with  
the blood of human sacrifices offered up
 to their ,juju1 or religious rites and 
customs1 for which the place had long   
been recognised as the city of blood4   
,what may be hereafter the advantages to
 trade resulting from this expedition it
 is difficult to say1 but the point of  
chief interest in connection with the   
subject of this paper was the discovery1
 mostly in the king's compound and the  
,juju houses1 of numerous works of art  
in brass1 bronze1 and ivory1 which1 as  
before stated1 were mentioned by the    
,dutchman1 ,van ,nyendaeel1 as having   
been constructed by the people of ,benin
 in #agjj4  ,these antiquities were     
brought away by the members of the      
punitive expedition and sold in ,london 
and elsewhere4 ,little or no account of 

them could be given by the natives1 and 
as the expedition was as usual          
unaccompanied by any scientific explorer
 charged with the duty of making        
inquiries upon matters of historic and  
antiquarian interest1 no reliable       
information about them could be         
obtained4 ,they were found buried and   
covered with blood1 some of them having 
been used amongst the apparatus of their
 ,juju sacrifices4  ,a good collection  
of these antiquities1 through the agency
 of ,mr4 ,charles ,read1 ,f4,s4,a41 has 
found its way into the ,british ,museum2
 others no doubt have fallen into the   
hands of persons whose chief interest in
 them has been as relics of a           
sensational and bloody episode1 but     
their real value consists in their      
representing a phase of art--and rather 
an advanced stage--of which there is no 
actual record1 although no doubt we     
cannot be far wrong in attributing it to
 ,european influence1 probably that of  
the ,portuguese some time in the        

sixteenth century4    ,a4 ,p4 ,r4       
,,rushmore1 ,,salisbury1   ,april1      
#aijj4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate   
,i4   ,fig4 #a4--;,bronze plaque1       
representing two warriors with broad    
leaf-shaped swords in their right hands4
 ,coral or agate head-dress4 ,coral     
chokers1 badge of rank4 ,leopards' teeth
 necklace4 ,coral scarf across shoulder4
 ,leopards' heads hanging on left sides4
 ,skirts each ornamented with a human   
head4 ,armlets1 anklets1 etc4 ,ground   
ornamented with the usual foil ornament 
incised4  ,fig4 #b4--;,bronze plaque1   
representing two figures holding plaques
 or books in front4 ,coral chokers1     
badge of rank4 ,reticulated head-dresses
 of coral or agate1 similar to that     
represented in ,plate ,,xxi1 ,fig4 #aba4
 ,barbed objects of unknown use behind  
left shoulders1 ornamented with straight
 line diaper pattern4 ,ground ornamented
 with foil ornaments incised4 ,guilloche
 on sides of plaque4  ,fig4             
#c4--;,bronze plaque1 representing three

 warriors1 two with feathers in         
head-dress and trefoil leaves at top2   
one with pot helmet1 button on top4 ,the
 latter has a coral choker1 badge of    
rank1 and all have leopards' teeth      
necklaces4 ,the central figure has a    
cylindrical case on shoulder4 ,two have 
hands on their sword-hilts4 ,all three  
have leopards' heads on breast1 and     
quadrangular bells hanging from neck4   
,leopards' skins and other objects hang 
on left sides4 ,ground ornamented with  
foil ornaments incised4  ,fig4          
#d4--;,bronze plaque1 figure of warrior 
with spear in right hand1 shield on left
 shoulder4 ,head-dress of coral or      
agate1 similar to that represented in   
,plate ,,xxi1 ,fig4 #aba4 ,quadrangular 
bell hanging from neck4 ,chain-like     
anklets4 ,coral choker1 badge of rank1  
and leopards' teeth necklace4 ,a nude   
attendant on right upholds a large broad
 leaf-shaped sword1 with a ring attached
 to pommel4 ,another holds two sistri or
 bells fastened together by a chain4    

,small figure on left is blowing an     
elephant's tusk trumpet4 ,figures above 
in profile are holding up tablets or    
books4 ,the dress of one of them is     
fastened with tags or loops of unusual  
form4 ,these figures have ,roman noses1 
and are evidently not negro4 ,ground    
ornamented with the usual foil ornament 
incised4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate 
,,ii4   ,figs4 #e and #f4--;,bronze     
plaque1 representing a warrior in       
centre1 turned to his left4 ,he has a   
beard and a necklace of leopards' teeth1
 but no coral choker4 ,he has a high    
helmet1 somewhat in the form of a       
grenadier cap4 ,quadrangular bell on    
neck4 ,dagger in sheath on right side1  
and various appurtenances hanging from  
his dress4 ,he holds a narrow           
leaf-shaped sword in his right hand over
 an enemy who has fallen1 and who has   
already a leaf-shaped sword thrust      
through his body4 ,the victim has a     
sword-sheath on left side1 with broad   
end1 and a peculiar head-dress4 ,his    

horse is represented below with an      
attendant holding it by a chain and     
carrying barbed darts in his left hand4 
,on the right of the conqueror is a     
small figure blowing a tusk trumpet1 and
 on his right a larger figure carrying a
 shield in his left hand and a cluster  
of weapons4 ,he has a high helmet1      
ornamented with representations of      
cowrie shells of nearly the same form as
 that of the central figure4 ,above are 
two figures1 one blowing what appears to
 be a musical instrument and the other  
carrying a barbed pointed implement1 and
 armed with a sword in sheath similar to
 that of the fallen warrior4 ,the plaque
 appears to represent a victory of some 
kind1 and all the conquerors have the   
same high helmet4 ,the ground is        
ornamented with the usual foil ornament 
incised4  ,figs4 #g and #h4--;,bronze   
plaque1 representing a king or noble on 
horseback sitting sideways1 his hands   
upheld by attendants1 one of whom has a 
long thin sword in his hand in sheath4  

,two attendants1 with helmets or hair   
represented by ribs1 are holding up     
shields to shelter the king from the    
sun4 ,the king or noble has a coral     
choker1 badge of rank1 with a coral     
necklace hanging on breast4 ,horse's    
head-collar hung with crotals4 ,a small 
attendant carries a manilla in his hand4
 ,the two figures above are armed with  
bows and arrows4 ,ground ornamented with
 foil ornaments incised4   ,de ,bry1    
,india ,orientalis1 says that in the    
sixteenth century both  the king and    
chiefs were wont to ride side-saddle    
upon led horses4  ,they were supported  
by retainers1 who held over their heads 
either  shields or umbrellas1 and       
accompanied by a band of musicians      
playing  on ivory horns1 gong-gongs1    
drums1 harps1 and a kind of rattle4     
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,iii4       
,fig4 #i4--;,bronze plaque1 naked figure
 of boy2 hair in conventional bands2    
three tribal marks over each eye and    
band on forehead4 ,coral choker1 badge  

of rank4 ,armlets and anklets4 ,four    
rosettes on ground and usual foil       
ornaments4 ,de ,bry says that all young 
people went naked until marriage4  ,fig4
 #aj4--;,bronze plaque1 figure of       
warrior with helmet or hair represented 
by ribs4 ,leaf-shaped sword upheld in   
right hand4 ,a bundle of objects on head
 upheld by left hand4 ,object resembling
 a despatch case on left side1 fastened 
by a belt over right shoulder4 ,human   
mask on left side4 ,four fishes on      
ground1 and the usual foil ornaments    
incised4  ,figs4 #aa and #ab4--;,bronze 
plaque1 representing a figure holding a 
ball1 perhaps a cannon ball1 in front4  
,coral choker1 badge of rank4 ,three    
tribal marks over each eye4 ,crest on   
head-dress1 feather in cap4 ,skirt wound
 up behind left shoulder4 ,skirt        
ornamented with a head and hands4 ,four 
rosettes on ground1 and usual foil      
ornaments incised4 ,guilloche on sides  
of plaque4     ,,description ,,of       
,,plate ,,iv4   ,fig4 #ac4--;,bronze    

plaque1 figure of warrior1 feather in   
cap2 broad leaf-shaped sword in right   
hand4 ,coral choker1 badge of rank4     
,leopards' teeth necklace4 ,coral sash2 
ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil1
 ornaments incised4  ,figs4 #ad and     
#ae4--;,bronze gis or plaque1 with      
representations of two figures with     
staves in their right hands4 ,coral     
chokers1 badge of rank4 ,on the breasts 
are two ,maltese crosses hanging from   
the necks1 which appear to be ,european 
,orders4 ,the objects held in left hands
 have been broken off4 ,the hats are    
similar to that on the head of the      
figure1 ,fig4 #ia1 ,plate ,,xv4 ,ground 
ornamented with the usual foil ornaments
 incised4  ,fig4 #af4--;,bronze plaque1 
figure of warrior with pot helmet1      
button on top4 ,coral choker1 badge of  
rank1 on neck4 ,leopards' teeth         
necklace4 ,quadrangular bell on breast4 
,armlets1 anklets1 c4 ,four rosettes on 
ground1 and the usual foil ornaments    
incised4  ,fig4 #ag4--;,bronze plaque1  

figure of warrior with spear in right   
hand1 shield in left hand2 pot helmet1  
button on top4 ,quadrangular bell       
hanging from neck4 ,coral choker1 badge 
of rank4 ,leopards' teeth necklace4     
,leopard's skin dress with head to      
front4 ,on the ground are two horses'   
heads below and two rosettes above4     
,ground ornamented with the usual foil  
ornaments incised4  ,fig4 #ah4--;,bronze
 plaque1 figure of warrior4 ,peculiarly 
ornamented head-dress4 ,coral choker1   
badge of rank4 ,leopards' teeth         
necklace4 ,broad leaf-shaped sword in   
right hand4 ,coral sash on breast4      
,leopard's mask hanging on left side4   
,armlets1 anklets1 c4 ,small figure of  
boy1 naked1 to right1 holding a metal   
dish with lid in form of an ox's head4  
,a similar object may be seen amongst   
the ,benin objects in the ,british      
,museum4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate 
,v4   ,figs4 #ai1 #bj and #ba4--,stained
 ivory carving of figure on horse4      
,coral choker2 spear in right hand1 the 

shaft broken4 ,tribal marks on forehead 
incised4 ,chain-bridle or head-collar4  
,degenerate guilloche pattern on base4  
,straight line diaper pattern           
represented in various parts4 ,the stand
 formed as a socket for a pole4  ,figs4 
#bb1 #bc and #bd4--;,ivory carving of   
figure on horse1 with spear in right    
hand and bell on neck1 and long hair4   
,the bridle formed as a head-collar4    
,degenerate guilloche pattern on base4  
,the stand formed as a socket for a pole
 ornamented with bands of interlaced    
pattern and the head of an animal4      
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,vi4        
,figs4 #be and #bf4--;,ivory carving of 
a human face4 ,eyes and bands on        
forehead inlaid4 ,straight line diaper  
pattern on head-dress1 above which are  
conventionalised mud-fish4 ,four bands  
of coral across forehead4 ,ears long and
 narrow4 ,found hidden in an oaken chest
 inside the sleeping apartment of ,king 
,duboar4  ,fig4 #bg4--;,carved wooden   
panel1 consisting of a chief in the     

centre2 broad leaf-shaped sword1 with   
ring attached to pommel1 upheld in right
 hand1 studded with copper nails1 and   
ornamented with representations of      
itself4 ,in left hand a fan-shaped      
figure terminating in two hands4 ,coral 
choker1 badge of rank4 ,bell on neck and
 cross-belts4 ,skirt ornamented with    
three heads and a guilloche pattern of  
three bands with pellets4 ,anklets4     
,attendant on left holding umbrella over
 chief's head4 ,serpent with human arm  
and hand in its mouth1 head upwards2    
eyes of inlaid glass2 body studded with 
copper nails4 ,leopard1 drawn head      
upwards4 ,on right1 figure with jug in  
left hand and cup in right hand1        
standing in a trough or open vessel4    
,small attendant with paddle in right   
hand4 ,at top a bottle bound with grass1
 and figure of some object1 perhaps a   
stone celt bound with grass4 ,brass and 
iron screws are used for ornamentation  
in this carving4 ,guilloche pattern of  
two bands without pellets around the    

edge of the panel4  ,figs4 #bh1 #bi and 
#cj4--;,ivory carved tusk1 #d feet #a   
inch long from bottom to point2         
traversed by five bands of interlaced   
strap-work4 ,the other ornamentation    
consists of3--,human figures with hands 
crossed on breast2 bird standing on     
pedestal2 human figures with hands      
holding sashes2 trees growing downwards2
 a rosette2 mudfish2 crocodiles with    
heads upwards2 a serpent with sinuous   
body1 head downwards2 two cups2 a       
serpent1 head upwards2 detached human   
heads4 ,some of the representations are 
so rude that it requires experience to  
understand their meaning4 ,on this tusk 
the interlaced pattern is the prevailing
 ornament1 and it passes into the       
guilloche pattern4 ,this tusk is more   
tastefully decorated than the other     
tusk1 ,figs4 #afg and #afh1 ,plate      
,,xxvi1 but with less variety in the    
carving4 ,these carved tusks are said to
 represent gods in the ,ju-ju houses4   
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,vii4       

,figs4 #ca and #cb4--;,ivory carving of 
female4 ,the design as rude as found in 
any part of ,africa4 ,necklet and       
armlets the same as on the bronze       
figures4  ,fig4 #cc4--;,ivory cup1      
stained brown4  ,fig4 #cd4--;,bronze    
drinking cup1 the same as represented in
 wood-carving1 ,fig4 #bg1 ,plate ,,vi4  
,figs4 #ce and #cf4--,lion in bronze4   
,the back is cut in a curved line1 as if
 adapting it as a foot to some object4  
,fig4 #cg4--;,bracelet of brass1        
somewhat twisted4  ,fig4                
#ch4--;,bracelet of brass1 with five    
projections set with agate4  ,figs4 #ci 
and #dj4--;,brass bracelet1 with negro  
heads of copper inlaid4 ,mud-fish       
springing from nose on each side and    
turned up4 ,coral chokers1 badges of    
rank4 ,the ring is decorated with       
incised floral ornaments4               
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,viii4      
,figs4 #da and #db4--;,figure of a      
warrior in bronze1 with leopard's skin  
dress2 javelins in one hand and shield  

in the other4 ,head-dress of peculiar   
form1 with feathers4 ,leopards' teeth   
necklace4 ,quadrangular bell on breast4 
,figs4 #dc and #dd4--;,female figure in 
bronze1 holding up a tablet in right    
hand4 ,head-dress1 necklace1 c41 of     
coral or agate4 ,three tribal marks over
 each eye4  ,figs4 #de and              
#df4--;,bronze vessel1 somewhat in the  
form of a coffee-pot4 ,handle at back1  
consisting of a snake with a sinuous    
body1 head downwards1 holding a         
full-length human figure in its mouth4  
,the spout consists of a human figure1  
seated1 with two tails2 and the spout   
springs out of the mouth between the    
teeth of the figure4 ,round the swell of
 the vessel are four figures resembling 
frogs1 the bodies ornamented as human   
heads2 nearly similar ornaments are seen
 on ,mexican stone carvings in this     
collection4 ,the four feet resemble     
human feet with anklets1 all pointing to
 the front4 ,the lid is ornamented with 
a human figure seated and four masks1   

and is fastened to the pot by a hinge4  
,figs4 #dg and #dh4--;,bracelet of      
bronze1 ornamented with two rudely      
formed human heads2 some of the yellow  
earth of the mould appears to be        
adhering to the interstices4            
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,ix4        
,figs4 #di and #ej4--,narrow armlet of  
brass1 with a succession of animals 78  
,lizards7 in relief on the edge4  ,figs4
 #ea and #eb4--;,bronze pointed dish on 
stand1 with ribbed cover1 rabbetted4    
,use unknown2 perhaps an ,european      
ecclesiastical utensil4  ,figs4 #ec to  
#ee4--;,head of a mace1 ornamented with 
leopard and keepers and heads in        
bas-relief2 decorated with interlaced   
strap-work1 with brass inlaid in copper4
 ,the human heads are partly negro1     
whilst others from their straight hair  
appear to be white men1 perhaps ,arabs  
or cross-breds4 ,the mud-fish is        
represented one on each side4 ,described
 by ,mr4 ,h4 ,ling ,roth in ,the        
,reliquary1 ,vol4 ,,iv1 #ahih1 p4 #afb4 

,figs4 #ef and #eg4--;,bronze bottle or 
power flask1 representing a female with 
barbed arrow-points extending from both 
sides of the mouth2 perhaps symbolical2 
and holding a four-pronged instrument in
 the right hand4 ,three tribal marks    
over each eye2 coral necklace4          
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,x4   ,figs4 
#eh and #ei4--,leopard's mask head of   
brass1 the pupils of the eyes           
represented by a copper band4 ,a band of
 copper inlaid along the nose and       
forehead4 ,a barbed figure on each      
cheek4  ,figs4 #fj and #fa4--,leopard's 
mask head of brass1 the pupils of the   
eyes represented by bands4 ,a barbed    
figure on each cheek4 ,eyelets along the
 edges1 perhaps to receive crotals as in
 ,figs4 #eh and #ei4  ,figs4 #fb and    
#fc4--,leopard's head in brass1 the     
spots and pupils of eyes in copper4     
,this appears to have been attached with
 a leather thong to the dress4  ,figs4  
#fd and #fe4--;,bronze vase4 ,the design
 appears to be purely native4 ,it is    

ornamented with four human masks1 two of
 which are ribbed4 ,there are two       
elephants' heads with tusks1 but no     
trunks over each ribbed head4 ,four     
bands of plain guilloche pattern        
arranged vertically between the heads4  
,concentric circles4 ,thickness of metal
 on unornamented parts1 #b mm4          
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xi4        
,figs4 #ff to #gb4--,the historic mace  
of office of ,duboar1 late ,king of     
,benin2 #e feet #d inches long1 and made
 of brass4 ,this was found by an officer
 of the expedition in the state         
apartment of the palaver house1 and was 
evidently left behind by the king's     
people on account of its heavy weight1  
in their hurried exodus from ,benin     
city2 the king is said to have since    
recognized this staff1 and stated that  
it had been handed down for many        
hundreds of years from king to king4 ,it
 has the representation of ,overami1 or 
reigning monarch1 on the summit1 dressed
 in the usual manner of ,benin warriors4

 ,he is standing on an elephant which   
has a proboscis terminating in a human  
hand4 ,this peculiarity is represented  
very often in the bronze antiquities of 
the ,benin country1 and especially on   
the carved tusk1 ,figs4 #afg and #afh1  
,plate ,,xxvi1 and must probably        
represent some great fetish2 the present
 race1 on enquiries being made1 could   
not elucidate this matter1 so its       
history must date back many ages4 ,this 
elephant is in turn supported by the    
usual two royal leopards4 ,the monarch  
holds in his right hand his chief ju-ju1
 which never leaves him night or day2 in
 his left hand he holds a neolithic or  
stone axe head1 edge upwards1 which are 
looked up to by the natives even now    
with great awe and superstition4 ,the   
interior of the upper part of the mace  
is hollow1 having a piece of metal      
inside1 formed like a long crotal1 and  
was used as a bell to keep order4 ,the  
broad leaf-shaped swords and the        
execution swords are depicted in several

 places over the mace4 ,it is ornamented
 with guilloche pattern of two and three
 bands with intervening pellets4 ,part  
of the mace is ornamented in imitation  
of twine binding4 ,near the foot of the 
staff is the figure of another elephant 
with proboscis terminating in a human   
hand1 holding a plant like a            
prickly-pear4 ,beneath the elephant are 
two human figures1 with ,maltese crosses
 on breasts1 axes in left hands1 and    
sticks in right4 ,below this are two    
axes hafted in serpents' heads1 which   
have human hands in their mouths and    
sinuous bodies4 ,crocodile1 head        
downwards1 and two interlaced mud-fish4 
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xii4       
,figs4 #gc to #ge4--,three triangular   
brass bells4 ,fig4 #gc has a negro head 
in relief on the front and fish-scale   
pattern4  ,fig4 #gd has the eyes1 nose  
and mouth of a human face only4  ,fig4  
#ge has a spiral in place of a face4    
,figs4 #gf to #gh4--,sistrum in brass1  
representing two cups1 the lower one    

ornamented with a figure holding a ball4
 ,the upper figures on each side        
represent a king with the arms upheld by
 attendants on both sides2 on one side  
the attendants are kneeling4 ,a hand    
holding a plaque or book is represented 
on each side4 ,crotals are attached to  
the sistrum on both sides4 ,a stand in  
form of a socket to fit a pole and a    
band ornamented with interlaced         
strap-work4 ,this object appears        
certainly to be a sistrum1 as human     
figures are shown in some of the plaques
 holding them in their hands and        
striking them with a rod to produce a   
sound4 ,a similar instrument in iron1   
modern1 is figured by ,mr4 ,ling ,roth1 
in ,the ,reliquary1 ,vol4 ,,iv1 #ahih1  
p4 #afe1 from the ,yoruba country4      
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xiii4      
,figs4 #gi to #ha4--;,figure of a       
warrior on horseback4 ,spear in right   
hand1 the blade having an ogee          
corrugated section1 similar to those    
used in all parts of ,africa where metal

 blades are used4 ,the edges of the     
blade are bent over by rough usage1     
which makes it look like a spoon4 ,the  
duct for the metal runs from the head of
 the horse4 ,darts in left hand4 ,the   
ends of the spear and darts are bent    
inwards1 as if by rough usage4 ,the     
chain halter is similar to those seen on
 other horses and is used as a bridle1  
held by the little finger of the left   
hand4 ,a circular shield1 similar to the
 one in this collection 7,plate ,,xviii1
 ,fig4 #ajb71 though differently        
decorated1 is slung on the left side    
over the thigh4 ,the spurs attached to  
the legs have four points arranged      
horizontally4 ,the figure has a         
leopard's skin on front and back1       
ornamented with representations of      
cowrie shells4 ,the coat and collar     
bordered with interlaced strap-work4    
,dagger on right side4 ,crown1          
apparently of feathers1 on head4 ,base  
ornamented with interlaced strap-work or
 guilloche pattern4 ,the horse is fairly

 well formed4 ,the hair conventionalized
 in straight lines4 ,the face is that of
 a negro4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate
 ,,xiv4   ,figs4 #hb and                
#hc4--,well-formed bronze head of a     
negress4 ,reticulated head-dress of     
agate or coral4 ,coral necklace4        
,pendant of agate on centre of forehead4
 ,the pupils of the eyes inlaid         
apparently with iron4 ,the upper lip has
 been inlaid probably with brass4       
,eleven bands of coral or agate hang    
from the head-dress on each side4       
,well-formed ears4 ,this and ,figs4 #hh 
and #hi1 ,plate ,,xv1 and ,figs4 #ih and
 #ii1 ,plate ,,xvii1 are the best formed
 heads in the collection4  ,figs4 #hd   
and #he4--;,bronze figure firing a gun1 
probably representing an ,european1 with
 beard1 presenting a flint-lock gun4    
,the barrel of the gun is broken off at 
the left hand4 ,european morion of the  
sixteenth century on head1 ornamented   
with interlaced strap-work4 ,sword or   
cutlass with ,european guard and a      

flint-lock pistol slung on left side4   
,on the right side1 a dagger4 ,armour   
ornamented with strap-work or interlaced
 work4 ,on the pedestal are represented 
two flint-lock pistols1 a cross-bow1 a  
three-pronged spear1 two figures holding
 guns and interlaced strap-work4        
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xv4        
,figs4 #hf and #hg4--;,brass head inlaid
 with a copper band along the nose4 ,the
 pupils of the eyes inlaid with iron4   
,reticulated head-dress of coral or     
agate4 ,three tribal marks over each    
eye4 ,conventionalized mud-fish in a    
frill around neck4  ,figs4 #hh and      
#hi4--,well-formed head in bronze1 the  
forehead decorated with two inlaid bands
 and four raised tribal marks over each 
eye4 ,the pupils of the eyes inlaid     
apparently with iron4 ,coral necklace4  
,the hair in conventional bands of      
ridges2 the ears unusually well formed4 
,figs4 #ij and #ia4--;,human figure     
standing in bronze4 ,negro features4    
,three tribal marks over each eye4      

,curved lines of circles and hatchings  
above and below the eyes4 ,three        
radiating lines branching from the      
corners of the mouth4 ,pot helmet1 with 
brim and reticulated ornamentation4 ,the
 ears are very rudely formed4 ,an object
 somewhat resembling a key or axe in the
 left hand4 ,there appears to have been 
a staff or pole in the right hand4 ,a   
cross with equal arms hangs on the      
breast by a chain1 apparently resembling
 a religious order4 ,the skirt only     
slightly tucked up on left side1        
ornamented with a guilloche pattern of  
two bands4 ,a rough cast4 ,this figure  
is very similar to ,figs4 #bic and #bid1
 ,plate ,,xxxviii4  ,figs4 #ib and      
#ic4--;,female1 in bronze1 with staff in
 left hand4 ,skirt ornamented with three
 bands of guilloche pattern4 ,head-dress
 of coral or agate4 ,coral choker1 and  
tribal marks4     ,,description ,,of    
,,plate ,,xvi4   ,figs4 #id and         
#ie4--;,bronze cast of human head4      
,negro features4 ,three tribal marks    

over each eye4 ,pupils of eyes inlaid   
with iron4 ,reticulated head-dress and  
rosettes of coral or agate1 similar to  
that represented in ,plate ,,xxi1 ,fig4 
#aba4 ,coral choker1 badge of rank4     
,twelve bands of coral and a band       
apparently of plaited hair hanging from 
head-dress on each side4  ,figs4 #if and
 #ig4--;,human head in brass4 ,marked   
negro features1 tattoed with dots and   
hatchings above and below the eyes4     
,branch-like figures1 perhaps coral1    
growing out of the eyes4 ,three tribal  
marks over each eye4 ,pupils of eyes    
inlaid with iron4 ,reticulated          
head-dress and rosettes1 of coral or    
agate1 similar to those represented in  
,plate ,,xxi1 ,fig4 #aba4 ,peculiar     
figures on each side of the head-dress1 
perhaps representing feathers4 ,coral   
choker1 badge of rank4 ,bands of coral  
or agate hang down from the head-dress  
at the sides and back of the head4 ,on  
the projecting base are represented two 
leopards1 an ox's head1 and other       

animals1 four arms and hands1 and a     
neolithic celt in front4                
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xvii4      
,figs4 #ih and #ii4--,well-formed head  
in bronze1 the forehead decorated with  
two inlaid bands and four raised        
cicatrices 7tribal marks7 over each eye4
 ,the pupils of the eyes inlaid         
apparently with iron1 coral necklace1 a 
badge of rank4 ,the metal is very thin1 
being only #a mm4 in thickness4 ,the    
hair in conventional bands of ridges2   
the ears unusually well formed4  ,figs4 
#ajj and #aja4--;,bronze cast of human  
head4 ,marked negro features1 rudely    
formed4 ,three tribal marks over each   
eye4 ,peculiar pointed reticulated      
head-dress of coral or agate4 ,curious  
lines of incised circles above and below
 the eyes4 ,coral choker1 badge of rank4
 ,bands of coral or agate hanging down  
on both sides and at the back4 ,ears    
badly formed4 ,the projecting base      
ornamented with a guilloche pattern of  
two bands with pellets4                 

,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xviii4     
,fig4 #ajb4--;,brass shield1 #b feet in 
diameter and #jh inch in thickness1     
ornamented with three concentric rings4 
,the outer one represents a row of      
leopards1 with human heads and          
head-dresses alternating4 ,a broad      
leaf-shaped sword1 similar to ,fig4     
#ajf1 and two execution swords1 similar 
to ,fig4 #aaj1 are also represented on  
this ring4 ,the middle ring is          
ornamented with a serpent with sinuous  
body1 having its tail in its mouth4 ,the
 inner ring is filled with foil         
ornaments1 and small circles cover both 
this and the outer ring4 ,there is a    
square hole in the centre for the       
attachment of the handle4 ,the shield   
resembles that slung on the left hip of 
the mounted warrior1 ,figs4 #gi to #ha1 
,plate ,,xiii1 but with different       
ornamentation4  ,fig4 #ajc4--;,iron     
dart1 or spear1 #e feet #a inch long1   
with wooden shaft4 ,the blade is        
leaf-shaped with socket1 and is rudely  

forged4  ,fig4 #ajd4--;,iron dart1 #c   
feet #g-a_/d inches long1 with barbed   
head and iron shaft4  ,fig4             
#aje4--;,iron dagger1 or short sword1   
length #af-a_/d inches2 the incised     
ornamentation is on alternate sides1    
like those of the ,gaboon and other     
parts of ,africa4 ,there are also       
sinuous lines engraved on alternate     
sides4 ,it is rudely forged1 and the    
handle is very small and bound with     
strips of copper4  ,fig4 #ajf4--;,iron  
leaf-shaped sword1 length #ai-a_/d      
inches1 similar in form to those        
frequently represented in the hands of  
warriors on the plaques4 ,it is rudely  
forged4 ,the wooden handle is inlaid    
with copper4  ,fig4 #ajg4--;,iron       
leaf-shaped sword1 length #ai-a_/b      
inches1 with alternating ornamentation  
on the opposite sides of the blade1     
similar to that prevailing in the       
,gaboon and other parts of ,africa4 ,the
 handle is very small1 and is bound with
 strips of iron4  ,figs4 #ajh and       

#aji4--;,brass implement1 resembling a  
bill-hook4 ,the edge is on the convex   
side and the concave side is blunt4 ,it 
is pierced with five holes and engraved 
with hatchings in ,benin style1 in which
 are included two stars1 a cross1 and   
three crocodiles4  ,fig4 #aaj4--;,iron  
execution sword1 #c feet #a inch long1  
hilt and pommel of brass1 with copper   
inlaid ornamentation4 ,the grip bound   
with brass wire4 ,it is single-edged1   
the edge being on the convex side4 ,it  
resembles the swords engraved on the    
circular shield1 ,fig4 #ajb1 one on each
 side of the broad leaf-shaped sword4   
,this kind of sword is held in the hands
 of warriors on two plaques in this     
collection1 ,fig4 #bed1 ,plate ,,xxxiii1
 and ,fig4 #bia1 ,plate ,,xxxviii4 ,it  
is also seen on the carved cocoa-nut1   
,fig4 #bbj1 ,plate ,,xxx1 and elsewhere4
 ,it is rudely forged4     ,,description
 ,,of ,,plate ,,xix4   ,fig4            
#aaa4--;,bronze gis1 representing a     
chief standing with attendants holding  

up his hands in a manner similar to     
,figs4 #gf-gh1 ,plate ,,xii1 and ,figs4 
#afg and #afh1 ,plate ,,xxviii4 ,frogs  
between the feet4 ,cylindrical spikes on
 head-dresses4  ,fig4 #aab4--;,bronze   
gis1 representing man on horseback to   
left1 wearing single-edged sword with   
guard4 ,a ranseur of the sixteenth or   
seventeenth century in right hand1 point
 down4 ,the hair is straight and combed 
out1 and may probably represent a white 
man4 ,the chain bridle is held up in    
left hand4 ,small crotals with chains   
hang from the eyelets on the edge of the
 gis4 ,pattern of fish-scales on ground 
similar to that on the brass bell1 ,fig4
 #gc1 ,plate ,,xii1 and elsewhere4      
,figs4 #aac and #aad4--;,bronze plaque1 
representing a figure standing2 long    
spear1 multibarbed1 with ogee-sectioned 
blade in right hand1 pointing downwards1
 knob at butt end4 ,there are twelve    
ducts running from the ground of the    
plaque to the shaft of the spear4 ,in   
left hand a broad leaf-shaped sword1    

with a ring attached to pommel1 like    
,figs4 #d1 #ac1 #aad1 #aca1 #bed1 #bee1 
c4 ,dress like a nightshirt1 and        
composed apparently of strings of coral1
 with bare arms4 ,dagger or short sword 
on left side4 ,quadrangular bell on     
neck2 teeth necklace2 coral choker1     
badge of rank4 ,head-dress of metal1 in 
form somewhat resembling a grenadier    
cap4 ,six rosettes on ground1 and       
quatrefoil leaves incised4              
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xx4   ,fig4
 #aae4--;,brass key1 a good deal filed  
and tooled all over4 ,handle ornamented 
with twisted rope pattern4 ,the form of 
this key cannot be identified as ,roman1
 and is probably ,european4  ,fig4      
#aaf4--;,bronze stand for the game of   
mancala1 with ten holes and two         
irregular-shaped cavities in the centre4
 ,it is the same game as ,figs4 #ahd and
 #ahe1 ,plate ,,xxviii1 but with fewer  
holes4 ,the sides are ornamented with   
interlaced strap-work1 and the stem and 
the edge of the base with varieties of  

guilloche pattern4 ,this game is        
distributed nearly all over ,africa1 and
 is said to be found wherever ,arab     
influence is seen4 ,it is also found in 
,palestine1 ,syria1 ,arabia1 ,maldive   
,islands1 ,india1 ,ceylon1 ,malay       
,peninsula1 ,java1 and the ,philippine  
,islands4  ,fig4 #aag4--;,brass bell1   
with reticulated pierced work4 ,negro   
head on front4 ,this bell is interesting
 as being a survival of the bells so    
often seen hanging from the necks of the
 figures on the plaques4 ,it is evident 
that it never could have emitted any    
sound4  ,fig4 #aah4--;,entire tortoise  
shell1 upper and under sides1 in brass2 
ornamented on the upper side with       
geometrical pattern2 each figure inlaid 
with a copper bolt or stud in the       
centre4  ,figs4 #aai and #abj4--;,bronze
 human head for holding carved          
elephants' tusks4 ,the head-dress1      
pointed and reticulated1 representing   
coral or agate4 ,four tribal marks over 
each eye4 ,six vertical bands of inlaid 

iron-work over the nose4 ,the pupils of 
the eyes are of iron4 ,the head-dress   
resembles ,figs4 #ajj and #aja1 ,plate  
,,xvii4 ,coral choker4 ,guilloche       
pattern on projecting base4             
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxi4       
,fig4 #aba4--;,head-dress composed      
entirely of agate4 ,it serves to explain
 the construction of the head-dresses on
 the bronze plaques and figures1 showing
 how the reticulated effect on the      
plaques is formed by beads of agate     
strung together in a kind of network4   
,the rosettes of agate1 and the tags and
 pendants are also explained by this    
figure4 ,see ,figs4 #b1 #d1 #dc1 #dd1   
#hb1 #hc1 #hf1 #hg1 #id1 #ie1 #if1 #ig1 
#ajj1 #aja1 #aai1 #abj1 #abd1 #abe1     
#abf1 #abg1 #bcb-bcd1 #bgg1 #bgh1 c4    
,figs4 #abb and #abc4--;,circular brass 
box1 ornamented on the top with a       
central figure in repouss work1 holding 
two crocodiles upright in each hand4    
,the legs terminate in a band turned up 
on each side as shown in other designs  

in ,benin art4 ,there are also circular 
heads having tribal marks over the eyes4
 ,rosettes1 guilloche and fish-scale    
patterns are also represented in        
repouss4 ,the pieces of the box are     
rivetted together with bands of copper4 
,this appears to be the kind of box     
represented in the hands of one of the  
smaller figures in the plaque1 ,fig4    
#agi1 ,plate ,,xxvii4 ,the latter1      
however1 is taller4 ,these objects have 
been described by ,mr4 ,c4 ,read as     
drums in his paper in the ,journ4       
,anthrop4 ,inst41 ,vol4 ,,xxvii1 ,plate 
,,xviii1 ,fig4 #d4 ,viewed as a drum1   
the projecting flanges at top and bottom
 are not explained4  ,figs4 #abd and    
#abe4--;,human mask of brass2 the pupils
 of the eyes inlaid with iron4          
,reticulated head-dress1 with rosettes  
probably of agate4 ,three tribal marks  
over each eye4 ,rows of semi-circles    
filled with semi-circles round neck4    
,the features are rounded1 and1 although
 a good deal tooled1 are less flattened 

by filing than some of these masks4     
,this is a good specimen of ,benin art4 
,figs4 #abf and #abg4--;,human mask of  
brass2 the pupils of the eyes inlaid    
with iron4 ,reticulated head-dress1 with
 rosettes probably of agate4 ,coral band
 above the forehead4 ,three tribal marks
 over each eye4 ,ears badly formed4     
,coral choker1 badge of rank4 ,guilloche
 pattern1 with pellets round neck4 ,the 
face is very much tooled and filed1 and 
the lips and nose flattened by filing4  
,crotals have probably been suspended   
from the eyelets below1 as indicated by 
the eight links of chains left remaining
 7see ,plate ,,xix1 ,fig4 #aab74        
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxii4      
,fig4 #abh4--;,armlet entirely of brass1
 without other metal4 ,ornamented with  
four upright figures and four horizontal
 heads4 ,the upright figures have their 
forearms elevated4 ,the legs are very   
attenuated and the skirt of the dress   
very pronounced4 ,eyebrows extremely    
prominent1 and the head-dress of        

peculiar form and conical4 ,the armlet  
is surmounted by raised bands1 which    
pass over the figures1 and are separated
 by pierced work4 ,broad rims are shown 
at top and bottom1 and are edged with   
herring-bone pattern4  ,fig4            
#abi4--;,bronze plaque1 representing    
human figure with beard1 riding to      
right2 a ranseur of the sixteenth or    
seventeenth century in right hand1 point
 downwards4 ,hair combed out straight4  
,no tribal marks4 ,bodice fastened with 
buttons4 ,pleated kilt like ,figs4 #bce 
and #bcf1 ,plate ,,xxxi1 and ,fig4 #bdg1
 ,plate ,,xxxii4 ,twisted or plaited    
bridle of some limp substance in left   
hand4 ,bell and crotals on horse's neck4
 ,leopards in relief behind figure of   
horse4 ,ground ornamented with trefoil  
leaves and punch-marks4 ,this figure    
does not appear to be negro4 ,the horse 
appears to be galloping1 which is not   
the usual ,benin method of locomotion4  
,fig4 #acj4--;,bronze plaque1           
representing two warriors with long1    

narrow1 leaf-shaped swords upheld in    
right hands4 ,peculiar head-dress1 a    
broad band on the frontal4 ,hair parted 
in the middle and hanging down behind4  
,one figure has a beard4 ,both have     
objects resembling bows slung upon left 
arm4 ,leopards' teeth necklaces and     
quadrangular bells hanging from necks4  
,ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil
 ornaments incised4  ,fig4              
#aca4--;,bronze plaque1 representing    
five figures2 central figure holding a  
staff of unusual form in right hand2    
coral choker2 oval head-dress2 small    
bells attached to straps hanging down   
from girdle2 anklets and armlets1 the   
former adorned with crotals2 left hand  
on handle of sword in scabbard on left  
side4 ,small figures on each side with  
javelins1 the points in a sheath4 ,the  
larger attendants on each side holding  
shields over the central figure1 as     
described by ,de ,bry in the seventeenth
 century4 ,all the attendants have a bag
 on right side1 strapped over shoulder4 

,one of the smaller attendants has a    
broad leaf-shaped sword upheld in right 
hand1 holding it by the ring attached to
 the pommel4     ,,description ,,of     
,,plate ,,xxiii4   ,figs4 #acb and      
#acc4--,small head of boy1 in bronze1   
with three raised tribal marks over each
 eye1 and two vertical marks on         
forehead4 ,head-dress with crest4  ,fig4
 #acd4--;,figures in bronze1            
representing two rude human figures1    
male and female1 attending an animal1   
probably a bear4 ,a plate1 or board1 of 
three rows of circles with ten circles  
in each row1 is laid out before the     
figures1 and is perhaps a game of       
mancala1 of which examples are seen in  
,plate ,,xx1 ,fig4 #aaf1 and ,plate     
,,xxviii1 ,figs4 #ahd and #ahe4 ,the    
female figure has very large anklets1   
and her hands are spread upon her       
stomach4 ,the hair is plaited and       
ornamented with knobs1 resembling a     
,mexican pottery figure in this         
collection4 ,the hair of the male figure

 is plaited and turned over on the left 
side1 and he is sitting cross-legged4   
,his left arm and hand are spread upon  
the bear1 and he has a rod in the right 
hand4 ,a burnt core of sand is seen     
under the thin metal pedestal4  ,fig4   
#ace4--;,brass bottle1 hung by chain1   
and ornamented with representation of   
twisted twine1 and a guilloche pattern  
without pellets round the swell4 ,the   
rings for hanging it are similar to     
those on the powder flask1 ,figs4 #ef   
and #eg1 ,plate ,,ix4 ,a similar brass  
bottle1 but smaller1 is represented in  
,plate ,,xxxv1 ,fig4 #bfg4  ,figs4 #acg 
and #ach4--;,a very rude head of bronze2
 probably used as the stand for a carved
 tusk4 ,four tribal marks over each eye2
 the eyes projecting like those of      
,figs4 #bfe-f1 ,plate #ce4 ,this is the 
rudest head in the collection4  ,fig4   
#aci4--;,a cylindrical stand of bronze1 
for carved tusks1 representing on the   
outside four female figures standing1   
with bands of upright interlaced        

strap-work between4 ,all the figures are
 holding objects in their hands4 ,one   
holds a bird1 another a sistrum1 which  
is being beaten with a stick2 the rest  
are broken4 ,two of the bands of        
interlaced strap-work are of thin       
repouss work1 and nailed on with bronze 
nails4 ,the base and top are ornamented 
with looped straps1 similar to ,no4     
#adj4 ,all the figures have three       
incised tribal marks over the eyes1 and 
crested head-gear4 ,a vertical hole for 
the carved tusk runs down the centre1   
like those in all the human heads4      
,fig4 #adj4--;,armlet of brass1 pierced 
work1 ornamented with bands of looped   
straps1 similar to ,fig4 #aci1 and two  
bands of concentric semicircles         
alternating with ,maltese crosses4      
,around the centre is a band of broken  
guilloche pattern1 forming a            
transitional link between the guilloche1
 and a peculiar floral ornament common  
to ,benin art4 ,the representation of   
,european screw-heads forms part of the 

ornamentation1 and raised eyelets       
alternate with the screw-head ornaments4
  ,fig4 #ada4--;,armlet of copper1      
ornamented with horizontal human heads  
of brass4 ,the head-dresses are         
ornamented with fish-scale pattern1 and 
the hair is combed out straight4 ,the   
heads alternate with double-coiled      
mud-fish1 resembling ,fig4 #bgf1 ,plate 
,,xxxvi4 ,it is not quite easy to       
understand how this work was done4 ,both
 the copper and the brass appear to have
 been formed by casting4                
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxiv4      
,fig4 #adb4--;,bronze open-mouthed      
vessel1 with six projecting eyelets     
round the neck1 and a handle4  ,figs4   
#adc and #add4--;,bronze or brass figure
 of cock1 #bb inches high1 including    
pedestal4 ,the feathers are represented 
in straight and curved lines of         
hatchings4 ,the pupils of the eyes are  
inlaid copper1 of lozenge-shaped form4  
,the tarsus is unnaturally broad4 ,on   
the top of the pedestal in front is a   

,maltese cross1 with a band of          
interlaced strap-work4 ,the sides of the
 base are ornamented with interlaced    
strap-work1 and representations of three
 ox's heads are on the front4 ,a fine   
specimen of barbaric art4  ,figs4 #ade  
and #adf4--;,human naked figure of      
bronze4 ,a large thick plaster covers   
the whole of the back1 and is fastened  
on with cords round the arms and legs4  
,mr4 ,h4 ,ling ,roth believes this to   
represent a cure for cretinism1 and says
 that two larger figures like it have   
been seen in ,benin city4 7,reliquary1  
,vol4 ,,iv1 #ahih1 p4 #agc47  ,figs4    
#adg and #adh4--,two bronze female      
figures back to back1 with one hat1     
being the handle of one of the swords or
 wands 7see ,figs4 #bjb to #baa1 ,plate 
,,xxix71 used by virgins in their       
dances4 ,there is a large iron pin right
 through the casting4  ,figs4 #adi and  
#aej4--;,bronze head of girl4 ,three    
tribal marks incised over each eye2     
pupils of eyes of iron1 inlaid2 necklace

 of agate or coral4  ,figs4 #aea and    
#aeb4--;,brass vessel1 resembling a     
coffee pot4 ,a human figure sitting in  
front1 out of the mouth of which the    
spout emerges4 ,the handle at back      
represents a sinuous snake with the head
 downwards1 like that of ,fig4 #df1     
,plate ,,viii4 ,bands of fish-scale     
pattern surround the vessel4            
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxv4       
,figs4 #aec and #aed4--;,carved ivory   
head of leopard1 the spots of lead1     
inlaid4 ,this resembles in form the     
bronze ones1 ,figs4 #eh-fc1 ,plate ,x4  
,it is apparently very old4  ,figs4 #aee
 to #aeg4--;,ivory carved sistrum1 with 
a large and a small bell1 similar to the
 brass one1 ,figs4 #gf-gh1 ,plate ,,xii4
 ,on the side of the large bell is a    
chief standing with his hands upheld by 
attendants in the usual manner2 a       
snake-headed sash hangs from waist4 ,on 
the top two carved figures1 one of which
 has been broken off4 ,at the back of   
the small bell is a band of straight    

line diaper pattern1 and on the top a   
crocodile's head holding a closed human 
hand4 ,it is much broken4 ,this object  
is of interest as showing it to be a    
survival derived from a metal sistrum4  
,mr4 ,h4 ,ling ,roth has described this 
object at some length in ,the ,studio1  
,december1 #ahih4  ,fig4                
#aeh4--,necklace of bronze1 ornamented  
with human heads in relief1 and birds   
with long beaks1 perhaps meant for      
vultures1 but too long-necked for that  
bird1 picking at the figures of extended
 skeletons4 ,in the intervals between   
the other figures are oval holes with   
raised edges1 probably a degenerate     
representation of the coiled mud-fish so
 frequently shown in other ,benin       
antiquities4 ,the fastening end of the  
necklace is broken1 disclosing the fact 
that the core of the object is of some  
lighter material encased in copper or   
bronze4 ,it has a hinge on one side1    
probably to facilitate the opening of   
it4  ,figs4 #aei and #afj4--;,brass     

handle of iron sword1 with fragment of  
the iron sword in it4 ,it has two human 
faces back to back1 covered by one hat1 
as in ,figs4 #adg and #adh1 ,plate      
,,xxiv1 and representations of ,european
 screw-heads used as ornaments1 as in   
,fig4 #adj1 ,plate ,,xxiii4  ,figs4 #afa
 to #afc4--;,bronze staff of office1 #d 
feet #aa inches in length1 weighing #ad 
lbs42 it has two elongated crotals in   
the upper end1 with long slits for the  
emission of the sound1 enclosing loose  
rods of iron4 ,between the slits are    
vertical bands of guilloche pattern with
 raised edges1 similar to those         
represented on the stem and top of the  
mancala board1 ,fig4 #aaf1 ,plate ,,xx1 
and a horizontal band of guilloche      
pattern with pellets in relief4 ,on the 
top is an upright human hand1 holding a 
curled mud-fish4 ,the middle of the     
staff is ornamented by curious          
nondescript figures alternating with    
balls1 and the lower end has an oblong  
butt ornamented on the four sides with  

guilloche pattern1 like that of the     
crotals on the upper end4 ,the staff has
 been broken in the middle and mended by
 recasting in a clumsy way1 the metal of
 the part introduced being thicker than 
the staff itself4     ,,description ,,of
 ,,plate ,,xxvi4   ,figs4 #afd and      
#afe4--;,carved ivory figure of a woman 
787 standing1 the arms deficient2 ,they 
were fitted into square sockets on each 
side1 and were fastened by large bronze 
nails1 one of which remains4 ,a row of  
five leopards' heads hanging from the   
waist-belt1 edged with rows of pellets1 
or perhaps eyelets1 but much defaced4   
,the lips are very thick and the nose   
broad4 ,the pupils of the eyes are      
represented by deep circular cavities4  
,no tribal marks apparent1 the breasts  
are not large1 but pendant4 ,the whole  
of the ivory is very much weathered and 
pitted1 especially the legs and base4   
,the figure was accompanied by another  
of the same size exactly like it and    
without arms1 which was not purchased4  

,fig4 #aff4--;,coral whip or whisk1     
probably a badge of office4 ,four tags1 
two of which are ornamented with        
crocodiles embroidered with metal4      
,figs4 #afg and #afh4--;,ivory carved   
tusk1 #c feet #f inches long from bottom
 to point4 ,band at bottom with         
reticulated or square-shaped ornament1  
probably derived from interlacing bands4
 ,commencing from the bottom1 the       
ornamentation consists of3--,a coiled   
serpent1 tail in mouth4 ,leopard's head 
and human head4 ,human figures standing1
 one having a cross on breast1 and a key
 or axe-shaped object in left hand      
similar to the bronze figure1 ,figs4 #ij
 and #ia1 ,plate ,,xv2 staff in right   
hand4 ,figure holding sash round waist4 
,elephant's head with tusks1 proboscis  
terminating in a human hand4 ,human     
figure with spear in left hand1 shield  
in right hand4 ,bird standing on        
pedestal4 ,human figure upholding broad 
leaf-shaped sword in right hand2 bell on
 neck2 pedestal on top of head2 feather 

in cap4 ,human figure4  ,fig4           
#afi4--;,ivory ring1 carved1 with #c    
birds4  ,fig4 #agj4--;,ivory bracelet1  
rudely carved1 with representations of  
leopards' and elephants' heads and      
perhaps the vestiges of the mud-fish4   
,fig4 #aga4--;,carved ivory bracelet1   
representing a snake1 the eyes inlaid4  
,figs4 #agb and #agc4--;,ivory bell1 or 
rattle4 ,with clapper of ivory1         
consisting of an elephant's tusk point1 
with human head carved2 tribal marks    
over eyes4  ,figs4 #agd and             
#age4--;,dagger1 the handle ornamented  
with lines of dots and circles4 ,the    
blade has an ogee section1 similar to   
that which prevails in the ,gaboon and  
nearly all parts of ,africa4  ,figs4    
#agf and #agg4--,wooden head-dress4 ,the
 horizontal bar appears to represent a  
shark with mouth and tail1 ornamented   
with carved representations of animals  
and masks4 ,said to be from ,benin1     
,west ,africa4 ,the masks are quite     
characteristic of ,benin art4 ,the eyes 

of the large mask are formed of the     
metal bases of cartridges1 which proves 
it to be quite modern4 ,it is similar in
 character to ,fig4 #ahc1 ,plate        
,,xxvii4 ,it is perhaps ,jekri1 see a   
paper by ,messrs4 ,granville and ,ling  
,roth in the ,journ4 ,anthrop4 ,inst41  
,vol4 ,i1 ,new ,series1 ,plate ,,viii1  
,fig4 #c4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate
 ,,xxvii4   ,fig4 #agh4--;,ivory        
trumpet1 made of the point of an        
elephant's tusk4 ,mouth-hole on the     
convex side4 ,the butt end is ornamented
 with two snakes in two bands1 tails in 
mouths4  ,fig4 #agi4--;,bronze plaque1  
with five figures2 the central figure   
with coral choker1 badge of rank1 coral 
or agate head-dress with feather1 and   
sash4 ,broad leaf-shaped sword upheld in
 right hand2 spear1 point down1 in left4
 ,two boys1 one with ivory trumpet1 the 
other holding a brass box nearly similar
 to ,figs4 #abb and #abc1 ,plate ,,xxi4 
,these objects have been described by   
,messrs4 ,read and ,dalton as drums in  

their paper in the ,journ4 ,anthrop4    
,inst41 ,vol4 ,,xxvii1 ,plate ,,xviii1  
,fig4 #d4 ,viewed as a drum1 the        
projecting flanges at top and bottom are
 not explained4 ,leopard's head on      
girdle4 ,attendants carrying shields2   
quadrangular bells on necks4 ,the left  
attendant is holding the same spear as  
the central figure1 point down1 as in   
,fig4 #ag1 ,plate ,,iv4 ,head-dresses of
 attendants with ornaments of cowrie    
shells4 ,ground ornamented with         
leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised4     
,fig4 #ahj4--;,bronze plaque1           
representing the figure of a warrior1   
with unusually formed helmet1 apparently
 of metal4 ,quadrangular bell on neck   
and teeth necklace4 ,shield on right    
arm1 and spear with square cap at butt  
end1 point downwards1 in left hand4 ,the
 ground is ornamented with two          
half-moons and the usual leaf-shaped    
foil ornaments incised4  ,fig4          
#aha4--;,bronze plaque1 representing    
three figures1 the central one beating a

 drum with his fingers1 and no          
drum-sticks4 ,the drum has pegs with    
knobs to fasten down the skin1 like     
,fig4 #bdh1 ,plate ,,xxxii1 and similar 
to the ,jekri drum figured in the       
,journ4 ,anthrop4 ,inst41 ,vol4 ,i1 ,new
 ,series1 ,plate ,,viii1 ,fig4 #e4      
,quadrangular bell on chest4 ,both the  
side figures hold sistri with two bells1
 like ,figs4 #gf to #gh1 ,plate ,,xii1  
upheld in their left hands1 which they  
are beating with sticks in their right  
hands4 ,this plaque gives a fair idea of
 the kind of music used in ,benin4      
,fig4 #ahb4--;,brass oblong box1 lid    
deficient4 ,lock of ,european form and  
ornamentation4 ,faces and sides of box  
ornamented with raised rosettes and     
incised floral designs resembling that  
on ,figs4 #gf to #gh1 ,plate ,,xii1     
,fig4 #bbe1 ,plate ,,xxx1 ,fig4 #bhb1   
,plate ,,xxxvii1 and ,fig4 #cjf1 ,plate 
,,xl4 ,it has four legs1 and is         
,european in appearance4  ,fig4         
#ahc4--,wooden head-dress1 with carved  

representations of animals on top4 ,said
 to be from ,benin1 ,west ,africa4 ,it  
was brought over from ,west ,africa with
 things from ,benin4 ,it is similar in  
character to ,figs4 #agf and #agg1      
,plate ,,xxvi4 ,it is perhaps ,jekri1   
see a paper by ,messrs4 ,granville and  
,ling ,roth in the ,journ4 ,anthrop4    
,inst4 ,vol4 ,i1 ,new ,series1 ,plate   
,,viii1 ,fig4 #c4     ,,description ,,of
 ,,plate ,,xxviii4   ,figs4 #ahd and    
#ahe4--,large mancala board of bronze4  
,it has #ceb holes2 another in this     
collection1 ,fig4 #aaf1 ,plate ,,xx1 has
 only ten circular holes4 ,the sides are
 ornamented with rectangular forms      
linked together4 ,this game is          
distributed all over ,africa1 especially
 where ,arab influence is seen4 ,it is  
also found in ,palestine1 ,syria1       
,arabia1 ,maldive ,islands1 ,india1     
,ceylon1 ,malay ,peninsula1 ,java and   
the ,philippine ,islands4  ,figs4 #ahf  
and #ahg4--;,curved iron knife1 with    
handle carved as a human figure4 ,the   

edge is on the convex side4  ,figs4 #ahh
 and #ahi4--;,dagger in leather sheath4 
,blade with a quadrilateral section4    
,brass handle with forked pommel4       
,figs4 #aij and #aia4--;,a dagger or    
prod of ivory4 ,negro head on the upper 
part1 below which is a human female     
figure reversed and crouched2 the hands 
holding the breasts2 the legs crouched  
up4 ,stained yellow2 blunt pointed4     
,figs4 #aib and #aic4--,point of        
elephant's tusk1 carved with a          
representation of a human figure        
kneeling4 ,at point1 a skeleton of a    
crocodile1 and a human head at base1 the
 mouth of which is peculiar4 ,it appears
 to be a whistle or musical instrument4 
,figs4 #aid and #aie4--,knife with ivory
 handle4 ,the brass sheath ornamented   
with human figures1 a floral ornament1  
and a man on a horse4  ,figs4 #aif and  
#aig4--,pointed rod of bronze1          
ornamented with two heads4 ,head-dress  
of upper head ornamented with bands of  
straight line diaper pattern4 ,crocodile

 head holding lower part of the rod in  
mouth4  ,figs4 #aih and #aii4--;,broad  
knife-shaped sword of iron2 the wooden  
handle bound with brass and iron bands  
alternating4 ,on one side the blade is  
engraved with a human figure and an     
execution sword traced in lines of dots 
and incised lines1 as is frequently the 
case in ,australian representations of  
figures on wood4 ,the other side of the 
blade has an ornamentation in leaves on 
a sinuous stem1 and a square pattern of 
interlaced bands4  ,fig4 #bjj4--;,brass 
bracelet1 having amongst other ornaments
 a band of straight line diaper pattern4
  ,fig4 #bja4--;,bronze link or buckle1 
or portion of one1 with incised floral  
guilloche ornament1 similar to that on  
the brass wand1 ,fig4 #baa1 ,plate      
,,xxix1 and the armlets1 ,fig4 #adj1    
,plate ,,xxiii1 and ,fig4 #bch1 ,plate  
,,xxxii4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate 
,,xxix4   ,figs4 #bjb and #bjc4--;,brass
 dancing sword or wand1 said to be used 
by virgins in their dances4 ,the handle 

is ornamented with two figures1 which   
appear to be holding some objects4 ,the 
blade is engraved with guilloche pattern
 on both sides4  ,figs4 #bjd to         
#bji4--,three brass dancing swords or   
wands1 said to be used by virgins in    
their dances4 ,each handle is ornamented
 by four rudely cast figures back to    
back1 carrying objects in their hands1  
two of which can be identified as birds1
 and two or three have leaf-shaped      
swords with ring on pommel4 ,one has    
bands of straight line diaper pattern4  
,the blades are ornamented with         
guilloche patterns and floral ornaments 
incised4  ,figs4 #baj and #baa4--;,brass
 dancing sword or wand1 said to be used 
by virgins in their dances4 ,the handle 
is ornamented with four figures1 which  
are in pairs back to back4 ,they appear 
to be holding swords and other objects4 
,the blade is ornamented on one side    
with bands of strap-work1 and on the    
other with a sinuous line of branching  
leaves 7floral guilloche74 ,straight    

line diaper pattern and lines of        
half-circles are on the square stem of  
the handle4  ,figs4 #bab and            
#bac4--;,iron wedge-shaped sword1       
single-edged1 enlarging to a broad end4 
,ivory handle2 the grip carved in       
pointed leaves and studded with lead2   
pommel in form of a leopard's head2 the 
eyes inlaid with lead2 a band carved as 
two scaly snakes at bottom4 ,the        
scabbard worked in green plush and red  
cloth1 with human figures and tortoises 
alternating4 ,this is probably the kind 
of work represented in metal on some of 
the dresses on the plaques4 ,the sword  
belts terminate in tassels of worsted or
 some other limp material4  ,fig4       
#bad4--;,iron spear-head1 modern1 with  
ogee section1 similar to those of       
,benin4 ,iron and brass bound shaft4    
,figs4 #bae and #baf4--;,iron spear1    
length #d feet #aa inches1 the head     
having an ogee section1 similar to those
 used at the present time on the ,gaboon
 and elsewhere in ,west ,africa4 ,below 

the spear-head the shaft is ornamented  
with bronze figures of leopards in two  
places and two degenerate elephants'    
heads and eyes1 the proboscis           
terminating in a human hand holding a   
leaf1 as so frequently shown elsewhere4 
,the butt end is cased and bound with   
brass4 ,the shaft is of iron1 with a    
brass band on the upper parts4          
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxx4       
,figs4 #bag and #bah4--;,carved         
cocoa-nut1 with carving representing a  
,european in boat with spear in right   
hand and apparently a paddle in the left
 hand4 ,figure armed with hoe1 and      
another cutting a palm-tree1 with a kind
 of chisel in the right hand and a      
bill-hook in the left4 ,one of the      
figures has distinct buttons on the     
coat4  ,figs4 #bai to #bba4--;,carved   
cocoa-nut1 representing a native on a   
horse to left1 holding up chain-bridle  
in left hand2 spear in right hand1 point
 down4 ,horse very ill-formed and       
indistinct4 ,another carving represents 

a figure1 apparently in boat1 holding   
spears point down4 ,one of the figures  
is beating a pressure drum1 which ,mr4  
,ling ,roth describes as being similar  
to those of the modern ,yorubas4 ,the   
drum-sticks used by two of the figures  
have curved heads and flat ends4 ,a band
 of chevrons within chevrons are on the 
trousers of two figures4 ,the marks on  
the faces consist of three lines        
radiating from the corners of the mouth1
 as in ,figs4 #ij and #ia1 ,plate ,,xv1 
and crosses on the cheeks4 ,tribal marks
 on faces4 ,a native execution sword1   
similar to ,fig4 #aaj1 ,plate ,,xviii1  
and a flint-lock gun are represented    
separately between the other figures4   
,the cocoa-nut is hung by a chain of    
,european manufacture4 ,the stopper     
represents a human face on two supports4
 ,mr4 ,h4 ,ling ,roth1 in whose         
possession this object formerly was1    
gives a more detailed account of it in  
,the ,studio1 ,december1 #ahih4  ,fig4  
#bbb4--,small brass crotals with        

semicircular ornaments4  ,figs4 #bbc and
 #bbd4--;,brass bracelet1 ornamented    
with brass representations of rows of   
cowrie shells1 in groups of nine4       
,figs4 #bbe and #bbf4--;,brass object of
 unknown use1 ornamented on the outside 
with three half-moons and a floral      
pattern in incised lines1 similar to    
that on the brass sistrum1 ,figs4 #gf to
 #gh1 ,plate ,,xii2 the brass box1 ,fig4
 #ahb1 ,plate ,,xxvii1 and the large    
quadrangular bell1 ,figs4 #bha and #bhb1
 ,plate ,,xxxvii4 ,the half-moons are   
inlaid or plated in copper on the brass4
 ,the edges of the object are ornamented
 with a band of plain guilloche pattern 
incised4 ,it is possible that this might
 be a degenerate representation of a    
double-coiled mud-fish1 as shown on the 
bronze gis1 ,fig4 #bgf1 ,plate ,,xxxvi1 
and on the bronze necklet1 ,fig4 #aeh1  
,plate ,,xxv4  ,fig4 #bbg4--,necklet of 
agate and coral beads4 ,said to have    
belonged to the ,king of ,benin4  ,fig4 
#bbh4--;,armlet of coral beads4  ,fig4  

#bbi4--,necklace of agate cylindrical   
beads4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate   
,,xxxi4   ,fig4 #bcj4--;,eight shells of
 bronze gilt1 forming part of a         
necklace4  ,fig4 #bca4--,ten gold       
shells1 which formed part of the ,king  
of ,benin's necklace4 ,the shells appear
 to be cerithid4 ,they are cast hollow4 
,the weight of the ten is #h-c_/d       
ounces4  ,figs4 #bcb to #bcd4--;,bronze 
statuette1 representing a figure        
standing2 with broad leaf-shaped sword1 
similar to ,figs4 #cbf1 #cbg1 #cbh and  
#cbi1 having a twisted ring pommel in   
right hand1 and a sistrum in left hand4 
,coral choker1 badge of rank4 ,three    
tribal marks over each eye4 ,agate      
head-dress1 similar to ,fig4 #aba1      
,plate ,,xxi1 and curved agate pendants 
on each side4 ,a large twisted ring     
rises out of the head-dress1 which looks
 as if intended to enclose some thick   
band of cloth or other substance to     
suspend it4 ,the crown of the head-dress
 terminates in a thick cylindrical spike

 with a flat top1 like ,fig4 #aaa1      
,plate ,,xix1 ,fig4 #aee1 ,plate ,,xxv1 
and ,figs4 #afg and #afh1 ,plate ,,xxvi4
 ,the sistrum is ornamented with a      
full-length human figure1 holding a     
staff in right hand and the so-called   
key or axe in left hand4 ,beneath the   
bowl of the sistrum are three projecting
 cruciform bars1 and the upper edge of  
the bowl is ornamented on each side with
 two heads very rudely cast4 ,dr4 ,felix
 ,roth1 in the ,halifax ,naturalist1    
,june1 #ahih1 p4 #cc1 speaks of these   
projecting prongs as being used for     
killing victims for sacrificial         
purposes1 but the fact of their being   
sistri is shown in connection with ,fig4
 #aha1 ,plate ,,xxvii4 ,sinuous serpents
 cover the shaft and bowl of the        
sistrum4 ,the leaf-shaped sword is      
ornamented1 front and back1 with small  
imitations of itself4 ,the figure has   
bands1 probably of coral1 crossing on   
the breast4 ,the skirt is ornamented    
with conventionalized human heads with  

long hair and rows of guilloche pattern4
 ,ankles have coral anklets4 ,the skirt 
is bound up in the usual manner in a    
band behind the left shoulder4 ,there is
 a band of small bells round the hips1  
and a human head and a bunch of bells on
 the left side4 ,this figure was        
obtained from the ,liverpool ,museum1 in
 the report of which it is elaborately  
described and figured with three others 
like it4 ,bulletin of the ,liverpool    
,museums1 ,vol4 ,i1 ,no4 #b1 p4 #ei4    
,there is a figure like this in the     
,british ,museum4 ,it is of considerable
 weight1 being cast solid4  ,figs4 #bce 
and #bcf4--;,bronze figure of a native1 
holding what appears to be a flint-lock 
gun1 but the hammer of the lock is      
broken off4 ,the stock is ornamented    
with a debased human head4 ,the figure  
has a leopard's skin on front and back1 
tail and hind legs of which are shown   
behind2 the tail terminates in a square 
bell4 ,sword in sheath on right side and
 a dagger under the arm on left side1   

with small bags on both sides4 ,there is
 a row of eighteen cartridges in the    
waist-belt in front4 ,the cartridges    
appear to be stuck upright into sockets 
in the belt4 ,a curved horn powder-flask
 is on the belt on the left side4       
,pleated kilt below waist-belt4 ,on the 
ground1 touching the feet1 is a         
decapitated head and nine large pellets1
 perhaps cannon balls4 ,the pedestal    
ornamented with interlaced strap-work1  
alternating with oval figures1 in       
character resembling the ornament on the
 stock of the gun4 ,it stands on a      
framework of curved bars1 now broken4   
,the breeches are ornamented with       
vertical rows of circles4 ,although this
 figure holds a flint-lock gun1 it is   
undoubtedly a native1 as three tribal   
marks are shown above each eye4 ,the    
face is also prognathic4 ,the head-dress
 seems to be of a woven material4       
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxxii4     
,figs4 #bcg and #bch4--;,armlet of      
ivory1 ornamented with representations  

of human heads1 birds and animals1      
carved on the surface1 and also of      
degenerate elephants' heads1 the        
proboscis1 in each case1 terminating in 
a human hand holding a palm branch2     
horses' heads2 tortoises2 leopards1 c42 
all of the most conventionalized forms4 
,bands of crotals are carved at each end
 of the armlet4 ,the armlet consists of 
two halves connected by a thin brass    
plate and copper rivets on one side and 
on the other by copper fastenings4 ,the 
plate is ornamented by a floral         
guilloche pattern1 similar to that on   
the central band of ,fig4 #adj1 on the  
wands1 ,figs4 #bji and #baa1 and        
elsewhere4 ,this pattern is figured by  
,messrs4 ,read and ,dalton in the       
,journ4 ,anthrop4 ,inst41 ,vol4 ,,xxvii1
 ,plate ,,xxii4 ,the carved figures     
represented on this ivory armlet are of 
much greater rudeness than those on the 
bronze objects generally4 ,much         
weathered and probably very old4  ,fig4 
#bci4--,quadrangular brass bell1 with a 

degenerate face on one side2 the eyes of
 the face are converted into loops4     
,fig4 #bdj4--,quadrangular brass bell4  
,the loops on one side are evidently    
derived from the degenerate face on     
,fig4 #bci4  ,fig4 #bda4--;,brass       
bracelet1 consisting of human heads     
linked together4 ,one of the heads has  
projections ornamented with concentric  
circles4  ,fig4 #bdb4--,necklet of      
cylindrical coral beads1 four of which  
are ornamented with straight line diaper
 pattern4 ,one of the beads is          
ornamented with a guilloche pattern1    
with pellets inlaid with lead4  ,fig4   
#bdc4--;,brass bracelet1 of peculiar    
form1 ornamented with small circular    
punch-marks4  ,fig4 #bdd4--;,brass      
bracelet1 with clusters of rows of      
circular knobs or shells4  ,fig4        
#bde4--;,brass bracelet1 with six       
quadrangular knobs having red agate     
inlaid2 similar to ,fig4 #ch1 ,plate    
,,vii4  ,fig4 #bdf4--;gis of bronze1    
representing a horse's head2 edged with 

eyelets probably for suspending crotals1
 similar to ,fig4 #aab1 ,plate ,,xix1   
and ,figs4 #abf and #abg1 ,plate ,,xxi4 
,engraved on one side of the back is a  
broad leaf-shaped sword with ring       
pommel1 similar to that on the gis1     
,fig4 #bgf1 ,plate ,,xxxvi4 ,these      
engravings are peculiar1 and seem to    
denote a badge or mark1 perhaps of      
ownership of some kind4  ,illustration3 
,,back ,,view4  ,fig4 #bdg4--;,bronze   
plaque1 representing figure standing2   
weapon or implement resembling a ranseur
 of the sixteenth or seventeenth century
 in right hand1 point upwards4 ,hair    
combed straight out4 ,pot helmet4       
,bodice fastened with three buttons and 
tags1 perhaps armour4 ,left hand on left
 side4 ,band with clasp round waist4    
,pleated kilt like ,fig4 #abi1 ,plate   
,,xxii2 ,figs4 #bce and #bcf1 ,plate    
,,xxxi2 ,figs4 #cbd and #cbe1 ,plate    
,,xlii1 and ,figs4 #cfj and #cfa1 ,plate
 ,,xlvi4 ,this figure has very thick    
lips1 but might not be negro4 ,ground   

ornamented with leaves in twos and      
threes1 incised1 and dotted punch-marks4
 ,the figure somewhat resembles in      
character the mounted figure1 ,fig4     
#abi1 ,plate ,,xxii4  ,fig4             
#bdh4--;,bronze plaque1 representing a  
figure playing a drum with sticks2      
quadrangular bell on neck1 ornamented   
with a sinuous snake1 head downwards4   
,head-dress with two feathers4 ,hair    
combed straight and coiled in plaits4 ,a
 peculiar kind of straight line diaper  
pattern on drum4 ,this drum has pegs    
with nobs to fasten down the skin1      
similar to that represented on the      
plaque1 ,fig4 #aha1 ,plate ,,xxvii1 and 
to the ,jekri drum figured in ,journ4   
,anthrop4 ,inst41 ,vol4 ,i1 ,new        
,series1 ,plate ,,viii1 ,fig4 #e4       
,ground ornamented with incised         
leaf-shaped foil ornaments and          
punch-marks4     ,,description ,,of     
,,plate ,,xxxiii4   ,figs4 #bdi and     
#bej4--,large bronze cover1 use unknown2
 the ribs ornamented in the usual       

incised style of ,benin work4  ,figs4   
#bea and #beb4--,top of a bronze mace1  
with slits resembling a crotal and a    
figure with an object1 probably a       
neolithic celt1 in the right hand4 ,the 
figure appears to be bent forward4      
,fig4 #bec4--;,bronze round bell1       
similar to those attached to the dresses
 on the plaques1 ,fig4 #bed1 ,plate     
,,xxxiii1 and ,fig4 #bfd1 ,plate        
,,xxxiv4  ,fig4 #bed4--;,bronze plaque1 
representing a warrior1 execution sword 
upheld in right hand2 broad leaf-shaped 
sword in left1 with a twisted ring or   
pommel4 ,quadrangular bell on neck1     
ornamented with a sinuous snake4 ,round 
bell on side2 peculiar head-dress2      
armlets2 object like a book under left  
arm2 teeth necklace4  ,fig4             
#bee4--;,bronze plaque1 representing two
 figures1 the right one having a broad  
leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand1 
with a large ring extending from pommel2
 teeth necklace1 but no coral choker2 no
 bell on neck2 cylindro-oval head-dress 

with feather on left side4 ,both figures
 hold the same spear1 point downwards4  
,left figure with shield on left arm1   
quadrangular bell1 and leopard's skin   
dress4 ,head-dress of the same form as  
the other1 ornamented with cowrie       
shells4 ,skirts of both figures         
ornamented with human heads4  ,fig4     
#bef4--;,carved wooden ,jekri paddle1   
neighbourhood of ,benin4 ,modern4 ,chain
 link shaft4 ,face on handle end4       
,pierced work blade4  ,fig4             
#beg4--;,carved wooden ,jekri paddle1   
neighbourhood of ,benin4 ,modern4 ,chain
 link shaft4 ,full length human figure  
on handle end4 ,pierced work blade1 with
 human figures1 crocodiles1 etc4        
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxxiv4     
,figs4 #beh to #bfj4--,round execution  
block1 with marks on the top for the    
thumbs and forehead of the victim2      
elaborately ornamented all over4 ,on the
 projection on which the forehead is    
intended to rest is a double row of     
cowrie shells1 bound round4 ,a band of  

guilloche pattern1 incised1 runs round  
the circle1 and the projections for the 
thumbs of the victim are ornamented with
 herring-bone pattern4 ,on the sides of 
the block are three human figures in    
relief holding hands2 shields1 a        
leaf-shaped sword1 and a trident points 
down4 ,the shields are ornamented with  
straight line diaper pattern1 and a band
 of the same runs round the top of the  
edge of the block4 ,two human arms and  
hands are on the side1 and two boxes or 
stools are between the human figures4   
,the bottom of the sides is ornamented  
with a band of guilloche pattern in     
relief4 ,the figures are clothed with   
jackets and skirts4 ,the whole is much  
worn1 as if by constant use4  ,fig4     
#bfa4--;,ivory horn1 mouth-piece on     
convex side4 ,ornamented with bands of  
broken guilloche pattern4  ,figs4 #bfb  
and #bfc4--;,bronze plaque4 ,a figure   
holding a so-called key in right hand4  
,coral choker1 badge of rank4           
,head-dress1 probably of agate or coral4

 ,no cross on dress4  ,fig4             
#bfd4--;,bronze plaque1 representing a  
figure standing holding in both hands a 
leaf-shaped sword of the kind shown in  
,no4 #acj4 ,the sword is narrower1 and  
the swell of the blade nearer the point 
than in the majority of specimens4 ,a   
round bell is attached to the left side4
 ,the hair appears to be dishevelled and
 partly plaited4 ,three tribal marks    
over eyes4     ,,description ,,of       
,,plate ,,xxxv4   ,figs4 #bfe and       
#bff4--;,bronze grotesque mask1 intended
 probably as a stand for the carved     
ivory tusks in the ,ju-,ju houses4 ,the 
eyeballs project like those of the head1
 ,no4 #acg4 ,three tribal marks over    
each eye1 and four over the nose4 ,the  
forehead is very projecting2 the nose   
aquiline and very broad4 ,tags1         
apparently of coral1 are on the sides4  
,the ears are very large4  ,fig4        
#bfg4--;,brass bottle and chain1 rudely 
cast4  ,figs4 #bfh to #bgj4--,long oval 
wooden bowl carved out of the solid4 ,on

 one side 7,fig4 #bfi7 is a row of five 
human figures in relief2 the central    
figure has his hands upheld by          
attendants1 who hold in their other     
hands shields having barbed javelins1   
points upward behind them4 ,the shields 
are ornamented with straight line diaper
 pattern4 ,another figure holds an      
object under the arm1 perhaps a drum or 
a food vessel4 ,at both ends there is a 
representation of a degenerate          
elephant's head1 the proboscis          
terminating in a human hand holding a   
branch1 similar to ,figs4 #gb1 #afg1 and
 #caf4 ,at one end is a rude            
representation of a degenerate mud-fish4
 ,the other side of the bowl 7,fig4     
#bfh7 is ornamented with a broad        
guilloche pattern and a square          
interlaced figure4 ,the interior of the 
bowl is very rudely chiselled out1      
showing marks of the tool all over4 ,the
 carving is very rough and much in the  
style of the execution block1 ,figs4    
#bei and #bfj1 ,plate ,,xxxiv4  ,fig4   

#bga4--,small bronze bird1 with         
something in the mouth2 very rude4      
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxxvi4     
,figs4 #bgb to #bgd4--,wooden comb1 the 
handle carved as links of a chain1 with 
a figure at top4  ,fig4 #bge4--,small   
iron knife or bill-hook2 the edge on the
 convex side2 with brass handle         
terminating in a pommel representing a  
human hand4  ,fig4 #bgf4--;,bronze gis4 
,two interlaced mud-fish4 ,this perhaps 
shows the origin of the oval hole       
sometimes found on some of the objects1 
see ,fig4 #ada1 ,plate ,,xxiii1 and     
,fig4 #aeh1 ,plate ,,xxv4 ,this gis has 
a broad leaf-shaped sword incised on the
 back of it1 as shown in the annexed    
woodcut4 ,these engravings are peculiar1
 and seem to denote a badge or mark1    
perhaps of ownership of some kind4 ,the 
gis is edged with eyelets1 probably for 
suspending crotals1 similar to ,fig4    
#aab1 ,plate ,,xix1 and ,figs4 #abf and 
#abg1 ,plate ,,xxi4  ,illustration3     
,,back ,,view4  ,figs4 #bgg and         

#bgh4--;,head carved in hard wood4 ,the 
coral choker1 the band round the        
head-dress1 the feather on left side and
 the base are entirely covered with thin
 brass or bronze4 ,apparently intended  
to represent a cast metal head4 ,whether
 this is the case1 or whether it is     
earlier than the introduction of metal  
casting1 it is difficult to say4 ,the   
face only and the top of the head-dress 
are left uncovered with metal4 ,the top 
of the head-dress represents a          
reticulated head-dress of agate1 like   
,no4 #aba4 ,the pupils of the eyes and  
the three tribal marks over each eye are
 of darker wood let in4 ,there is a     
bronze band of metal along the forehead 
and nose4 ,a ring of bronze-headed nails
 surrounds each eye4 ,there is a broad  
hanging band on each side of the face1  
covered with thin metal and surmounted  
by a conical ornament4 ,the metal is    
fastened on to the wood with oblong     
rivets4 ,the face is extremely rudely   
carved4 ,round the base is a band of    

peculiar ornament in repouss work1 which
 is either intended for a floral        
ornament or a broken guilloche pattern1 
like that on the blades of the wands and
 elsewhere4 ,there is a vertical hole   
through the back of the head1 which is  
not large enough to contain a tusk4     
,figs4 #bgi and #bhj4--;,bronze rod1    
pointed below2 perhaps the head of a    
staff intended to fit on to a wooden    
stem4 ,ornamented with a human figure   
sitting at top1 with a human-headed     
staff in right hand1 and a neolithic    
celt1 edge up1 in left hand4 ,coral     
choker and head-dress with serpents     
hanging head downwards1 and a band of   
straight line diaper pattern4 ,three    
tribal marks over each eye4 ,band of    
guilloche pattern on skirt-rings for    
pendants 78 crotals74 ,below1 in a      
separate division1 is a nude human      
figure kneeling and holding something in
 front in both hands4 ,at sides sinuous 
serpents with the heads down1 and       
crocodiles or lizards4 ,below again a   

sinuous serpent1 head upwards4 ,the     
whole very rudely cast4                 
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xxxvii4    
,figs4 #bha and #bhb4--;,bronze square  
bell1 the ornamentation tastefully      
designed1 with a human head1 crocodiles1
 and floral ornaments4 ,the clapper is  
in the form of a sinuous snake1 head    
downwards4  ,fig4 #bhc4--;,ivory armlet1
 very rudely carved in human figures1   
crocodiles1 serpents1 c4  ,figs4 #bhd   
and #bhe4--;,brass or bronze sword1 the 
pommel in the form of a twisted ring1 as
 so frequently shown on the plaques1 see
 ,figs4 #d1 #aac1 #agi1 #bee1 etc4 ,the 
blade is of unusual form1 very broad1   
and rounded at the end4  ,figs4 #bhf to 
#bhh4--;,bronze plaque1 representing a  
figure standing and holding in his left 
hand a staff with an eagle on the top4  
,a staff with a bird on the top is      
represented in one of the figures of    
,no4 #aci4     ,,description ,,of       
,,plate ,,xxxviii4   ,fig4              
#bhi4--;,bronze plaque1 representing a  

human head with straight combed hair4   
,aquiline nose1 moustache and beard2 not
 of negro type4 ,the ground ornamented  
with the usual leaf ornament4  ,fig4    
#bij4--;,bronze plaque1 with pendant    
fruit ribbed4 ,raised rosettes and the  
usual leaf ornament on field incised4   
,fig4 #bia4--;,bronze or brass plaque4  
,figure1 full length2 an unknown        
implement upheld in right hand1 and an  
execution sword held horizontally in    
left hand4 ,three tribal marks over each
 eye4 ,the dress ornamented with human  
heads1 half-moons1 and floral ornaments 
incised4 ,ground ornamented with the    
usual leaf-shaped ornament4  ,fig4      
#bib4--;,bronze gis4 ,a female with     
pointed head-dress1 and coral choker1   
badge of rank2 striking a sistrum with a
 rod4 ,it is repaired with lead4  ,figs4
 #bic and #bid4--;,bronze statuette1    
representing a negro figure holding a   
so-called key in the left hand4 ,the    
figure has three tribal marks over each 
eye1 and three radiating lines branching

 from the corners of the mouth4 ,the    
pupils of the eyes are inlaid with iron4
 ,a cross on the breast hanging from the
 neck by a cord4 ,no coral choker1 but a
 necklace perhaps of coral or agate4 ,a 
pot hat with a narrow straight brim4    
,this figure exactly resembles ,no4 #ij4
 ,the ears are very rudely formed4 ,no  
hair is shown4 ,the face is very        
prognathous and the nose broad and flat1
 not aquiline4 ,the skirt is only       
slightly hooked up4     ,,description   
,,of ,,plate ,,xxxix4   ,fig4           
#bie4--;,bronze plaque1 head of horse1  
very much elongated4 ,for the elongation
 of a horse's head1 see the figure of   
horse and rider in ,figs4 #bii and #cjj4
  ,figs4 #bif and #big4--;,bronze       
plaque1 representing a cow's head1 of   
natural form and proportions1 with a    
rope bound round the horns4  ,fig4      
#bih4--;,bronze plaque4 ,a sinuous      
serpent1 head downwards4 ,ground        
ornamented with the usual foil ornament 
incised4  ,figs4 #bii and               

#cjj4--;,bronze man on horseback1       
holding a shield1 with barbed javelins1 
points downwards1 on right arm4 ,a band 
of crotals hung over right shoulder4    
,sword on right side with ,european     
scabbard4 ,the dress is peculiar and    
formed with lappets on front and back4  
,the horse and rider are very attenuated
 and rudely executed4 ,the horse tucked 
up like a greyhound1 with head very     
long1 like ,fig4 #bie4 ,band with       
crotals round the horse's neck4 ,large  
flaws in the casting of both horse and  
rider4     ,,description ,,of ,,plate   
,,xl4   ,fig4 #cja4--;,bronze cock1 the 
feathers represented by herring-bone    
pattern4  ,figs4 #cjb and               
#cjc4--;,elephant's tusk formed as a    
trumpet4 ,the mouthpiece on the convex  
side2 with rattle4 ,the loose pieces of 
the rattle carved out of the solid1     
through the oblong apertures4           
,ornamented with three bands of         
guilloche pattern2 straight line diaper 
pattern1 and degenerate mud-fish        

interlaced1 in two places4  ,figs4 #cjd 
and #cje4--,portion of an iron staff1   
ornamented with bands of bronze1 on     
which are figured human faces1 leopards'
 heads and bands of looped strands1     
similar to those on ,figs4 #aci and     
#adj1 ,plate ,,xxiii4  ,fig4            
#cjf4--,thin brass head ornament for    
horse1 and a broad band to go along the 
top of the head and mane4 ,the figure on
 the lower part represents a crocodile1 
head downwards1 ornamented with rows of 
copper rivets4 ,the band for the head is
 ornamented with a floral ornament      
7floral guilloche7 consisting of a      
sinuous stem with a leaf branching out  
of each curve1 similar to that shown on 
,figs4 #bji1 #bch and #bgh4 ,the whole  
of the ornamentation is in repouss work1
 and is probably intended to be attached
 to leather4  ,figs4 #cjg and           
#cjh4--,lower portion of an iron staff1 
surrounded by bands of brass1 ornamented
 with leopards' heads1 frogs1 looped    
strands and guilloche pattern4  ,fig4   

#cji4--,square brass lamp1 with four    
receptacles for wicks1 one at each      
corner4 ,ornamented with dots of repouss
 work1 and suspended by an iron chain   
with long links and a hook4  ,figs4 #caj
 to #cac4--;,bronze lamp1 apparently    
with gold in its composition4 ,the basin
 patched and riveted with copper4 ,the  
bands for suspension ornamented with    
straight line diaper pattern 7,fig4     
#cab7 and broken guilloche pattern      
7,fig4 #cac71 united at top in a human  
figure 7,fig4 #caa71 having the private 
parts strongly pronounced4 ,there are   
only one or two objects in this         
collection in which this peculiarity    
occurs1 which is so prevalent in the art
 of most savages4     ,,description ,,of
 ,,plate ,,xli4   ,figs4 #cad to        
#caf4--,wooden stool1 the top slightly  
basin-shaped2 the stem carved to        
represent two interlaced serpents1 but  
the interlacing is not continuous1 being
 broken by a square hole pierced through
 the centre of the shaft4 ,the heads of 

the serpents are conventional and they  
bend towards the top and bottom on      
alternate sides4 ,the tails of the      
serpents terminate in the mouths of two 
frogs carved on the base and underside  
of the top of the seat4 ,a human figure 
is in the mouth of the serpent resting  
on the base1 holding a bill-hook in his 
left hand1 similar to ,figs4 #ajh and   
#aji1 ,plate ,,xviii4 ,on the underside 
of the seat1 the serpent holds a leopard
 in its mouth2 leopard holding a palm   
branch in its mouth4 ,the other figures 
carved on the base and underside of the 
top are two degenerate mud-fish and two 
degenerate elephants' heads1 the        
proboscis terminating in a human hand1  
like ,figs4 #gb and #afg4 ,the seat is  
ornamented with an interlaced guilloche 
pattern surrounding the top edge of the 
seat4  ,fig4 #cag4--,wooden plaque1     
ornamented in the centre by a coil of   
interlaced strap-work1 bounded by two   
lines of zigzag pattern4 ,on one side a 
broad leaf-shaped sword with a ring     

pommel1 similar to ,figs4 #cbf and #cbg1
 ,plate ,,xlii1 and ,figs4 #cbh and     
#cbi1 ,plate ,,xliii4 ,the handle is    
ornamented with a straight line diaper  
pattern4 ,on the other side is          
represented an execution sword1 similar 
to ,fig4 #aaj1 ,plate ,,xviii4  ,figs4  
#cah and #cai4--,wooden seat1 of oblong 
form1 supported by four legs1 with      
cross-braces4 ,all the ornamental       
portions are plated with thin brass1    
beaten on and riveted4 ,the top of the  
seat is ornamented in the centre and    
ends by bands of single and double      
guilloche pattern1 and in the centre of 
the squares by a square pattern of      
interlaced strands riveted on1 similar  
to that represented on the blade of the 
sword1 ,fig4 #aii1 ,plate ,,xxviii4 ,the
 legs and sides of the seat are         
ornamented by wheel-shaped forms1 in    
eight places1 and half-moons1 similar to
 those on the ground-work of the plaque1
 ,fig4 #ahj1 ,plate ,,xxvii4 ,the stool 
in various parts is ornamented by       

brass-headed nails1 which might perhaps 
be ,european4     ,,description ,,of    
,,plate ,,xlii4   ,figs4 #cbj and       
#cba4--,wooden bird resembling a turkey4
 ,the inlaying of the eyes has          
disappeared2 the feathers are           
conventionally represented by carved    
squares and lines of herring-bone       
pattern4 ,on the top is a rudely-cut    
vertical projection #e inches high and  
#b-a_/b inches broad1 the meaning of    
which is unknown2 and from it hangs on  
each side of the bird1 a broad band     
#c-a_/b inches broad1 carved with four  
rows of herring-bone pattern1 the       
meaning of which is also unknown4 ,the  
front of the base is ornamented with a  
guilloche pattern of four strands4      
,fig4 #cbb4--;,circular brass fan1      
thickness of metal1 4#jb inch2          
ornamented with bands of guilloche      
pattern1 herring-bone1 and straight line
 diaper patterns4 ,the handle is riveted
 to the fan4  ,fig4 #cbc4--;,fan of     
hide4 ,the sewing of leather resembles  

that of the brass fan1 ,fig4 #cbb1      
,plate ,,xlii4  ,figs4 #cbd and         
#cbe4--;,bronze group of three human    
figures1 the front figure kneeling1 the 
hands in an attitude of prayer4 ,the    
upper part naked1 the lower part covered
 by a pleated kilt or skirt1 similar to 
,figs4 #abi1 #bce1 #bcf1 and #bdg4 ,the 
corners of the eyes ornamented with a   
raised barbed figure4 ,a belt of two    
ropes round the waist with two loops    
behind1 in one of which hang two links  
of a chain4 ,this figure is attended    
behind by two short figures standing and
 armed with swords in sheaths4 ,coral   
necklaces and anklets4 ,three tribal    
marks incised over each eye4 ,on the    
ground are three decapitated human      
heads1 face upwards1 and a dog4 ,the    
base is ornamented with coiled figures4 
,figs4 #cbf and #cbg4--;,broad          
leaf-shaped iron sword1 similar to      
,figs4 #cbh and #cbi1 ,plate ,,xliii4   
,the handle enclosed in a large ring of 
metal1 #g inches in diameter4 ,the      

blade1 which is 4#jh inch in thickness1 
is perforated by a pattern of holes4    
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xliii4     
,figs4 #cbh and #cbi4--;,broad          
leaf-shaped iron sword1 similar to      
,figs4 #cbf and #cbg1 ,plate ,,xlii4    
,the handle enclosed in a large ring of 
metal1 #h inches by #e-a_/b inches      
interior measurement1 twisted in two    
places4 ,it has probably had a grip of  
wood1 which has disappeared4 ,the blade1
 which is only #jf inch in thickness1 is
 ornamented with a pattern of perforated
 holes4 ,the use of this instrument is  
unknown2 it may have been an execution  
sword1 but1 if so1 the ring-guard       
appears superfluous4  ,fig4             
#ccj4--;,iron staff1 similar to the     
bronze one1 ,figs4 #ced and #cee1 ,plate
 ,,xlv4 ,in the cluster at the top is   
the figure of a bird surmounting an     
animal1 probably a chameleon1 similar to
 the one half-way down the stem1 and    
surrounded by a cluster of various      
implements and weapons1 points upwards1 

amongst which may be distinguished a    
fork with diamond-shaped heads1 a curved
 bill-hook1 a chisel1 a spud and a      
reaping-hook4 ,below this are two       
clusters each of six hanging bells2 two 
sinuous snakes1 heads upwards1 are      
crawling up the stem4  ,figs4 #cca and  
#ccb4--;,carved wooden board1 #aj-a_/b  
feet in length and #a foot #aa inches   
broad2 from a house in ,benin city4 ,it 
is ornamented with five panels in       
relief4 ,each panel has a circle with   
radiating lines1 bounded by lines of    
guilloche pattern4 ,the several panels  
are separated by broad bands of         
interlaced strap-work1 deeply carved4   
,the interlaced strap-work varies in    
design1 some being simply plaited1 and  
in others it is further complicated with
 twists and returns4 ,some have two     
interlaced bands1 others four4 ,the     
carving is irregular and traced by the  
eye without measure or ,t-square4 ,long 
sinuous snakes with heads are           
represented in the smaller lines        

dividing the panels and give the effect 
of a meander4 ,the whole of the carving 
has originally been covered with thin   
plates of brass or bronze beaten on1    
traces of which are seen here and there 
fastened on with oblong rivets of metal4
  ,figs4 #ccc to #cce4--,round execution
 block and stand of wood1 elaborately   
carved with figures of men and animals4 
,on the top is a pointed spike of wood1 
#e inches in height1 on which the head  
of the victim appears to have rested1   
and below this on the surface at the top
 of the block are two receptacles for   
the thumbs of the victim1 in the form of
 coiled mud-fish4 ,the ornamentation on 
the top consists of squares and         
triangles filled with parallel straight 
lines alternating in direction1 and     
edged with a circle of broken guilloche 
pattern4 ,on the sides are three human  
figures1 two of which are holding hands 
upwards1 weapons and shields1 and one a 
curved sword of ,european form1 point   
downwards4 ,between these figures are   

two boxes or stools2 there are also two 
human hands and other objects on the    
other side4 ,the bottom of the block is 
surrounded by a broad guilloche pattern 
of four or five strands4 ,the stand on  
which the block stands is of            
semicircular form4 ,the top is          
ornamented with two animals1 resembling 
crocodiles1 conforming to the outline of
 the curve1 and other animals and       
objects4 ,on the front of this stand is 
a row of objects1 consisting1 in the    
centre1 of a human figure holding       
something on the abdomen1 human hands1  
animals' heads1 and other objects4 ,a   
very similar execution block1 but       
without stand1 is shown in ,figs4 #beh  
to #bfj1 ,plate ,,xxxiv4 ,the barbarous 
carving and ornamentation of such       
gruesome objects is quite characteristic
 of ,benin art4     ,,description ,,of  
,,plate ,,xliv4   ,fig4 #ccf4--,wooden  
casket in the form of an ox's head1     
coated with thin brass riveted on4 ,from
 the forehead two human hands rise up   

holding the horns4 ,along the forehead  
and along the sides are three lines of  
single guilloche pattern in repouss     
work4 ,the pupils of the eyes are inlaid
 with a dark substance4 ,it appears to  
be a box or casket of some kind4 ,a     
similar box is shown in the hands of the
 small figure in plaque ,no4 #ah1 ,plate
 ,,iv4 ,a precisely similar object from 
,benin is figured by ,mr4 ,ling ,roth in
 ,the ,studio1 ,december1 #ahih1 ,fig4  
#ah2 and there is also another similar  
in the ,british ,museum1 figured in     
,antiquities from ,benin in the ,british
 ,museum1 ,plate ,,xi1 ,fig4 #i4  ,fig4 
#ccg4--;,half of a bronze circlet or    
necklet1 similar to ,fig4 #aeh1 ,plate  
,,xxv2 ornamented with two human forms  
with attenuated bodies and conventional 
heads1 consisting of circles with five  
circular punch-marks to represent the   
features1 and two other similar heads   
without bodies4 ,the arms of these two  
figures are bound together at the       
wrists4 ,at the feet of these two       

extended figures are two human heads of 
negro type1 very well executed1 and a   
leopard's head4 ,it is ornamented in    
other places by a broad leaf-shaped     
sword and spirals4 ,this remarkable work
 of savage art is shown in greater      
detail in the annexed woodcut4  ,fig4   
#cch4--;,bronze sword1 perhaps an       
execution sword1 but rather too small   
for that purpose2 with wooden grip and  
pommel4 ,the blade is ornamented on both
 sides with incised semicircles and     
curved lines4 ,the cutting edge is on   
the convex side4  ,fig4 #cci4--;,bronze 
sword1 perhaps an execution sword1 but  
rather too small for that purpose2      
ornamented with incised semicircles1    
like ,fig4 #cch1 and chevrons filled    
with parallel incised lines4 ,the grip  
ornamented with parallel incised bands  
in imitation of binding4 ,the blade is  
also ornamented with peculiar incised   
scrolls and circular punch-marks1 and   
diamond forms4  ,fig4 #cdj4--;,bronze   
pin1 ornamented with four               

conventionalized birds4 ,inlaid in      
various places with red agate1 and      
ornamented with circular punch-marks4   
,fig4 #cda4--;,bronze bell or sistrum1  
with small bell attached2 both          
ornamented with an incised              
lozenge-shaped pattern4 ,a similar      
double bell1 from ,yoruba1 is figured by
 ,mr4 ,ling ,roth in ,the ,reliquary1   
#ahih1 p4 #afe4  ,fig4 #cdb4--;,bronze  
figure of boy1 with the palms of the    
hands erect and open1 as if denying     
having stolen anything4 ,serpent1 head  
downwards1 on forehead4 ,three incised  
tribal marks over each eye4 ,coral      
necklace4  ,figs4 #cdc and              
#cdd4--;,human mask1 of bronze4 ,the    
pupils of the eyes inlaid with iron4    
,fig4 #cde4--;,bronze leopard1 tail     
deficient2 total height1 #ae-a_/d       
inches4 ,one of the hind legs broken off
 and repaired by natives with a piece of
 ivory4 ,the leopard is covered with    
incised spots and small punch-marks all 
over4 ,the pupils of the eyes are inlaid

 with iron4     ,,description ,,of      
,,plate ,,xlv4   ,fig4                  
#cdf4--,quadrangular bronze bell1       
ornamented with mud-fish and a human    
head in relief4 ,it is reticulated on   
all sides and could have emitted no     
sound4  ,fig4 #cdg4--,quadrangular      
bronze bell1 ornamented on one side by a
 degenerate human face in relief4 ,the  
ornamentation tastefully designed4      
,fig4 #cdh4--;,bronze cock1 somewhat    
similar to ,fig4 #cja1 ,plate ,,xl4     
,fig4 #cdi4--;,brass armlet1 made from  
one piece of thin metal1 joined by      
copper rivets4 ,ornamented by three     
naked human figures in relief1 and bands
 of interlaced rings4  ,figs4 #cej and  
#cea4--;,bronze trumpet1 slightly       
curved1 the mouth-hole on the convex    
side1 similar in form to the ivory      
trumpets1 ,figs4 #agh1 #aib and #aic4   
,projecting blades1 like celts1 on the  
large end1 as in the sistrum in ,figs4  
#bcb to #bcd1 ,plate ,,xxxi4 ,a somewhat
 similar instrument is figured by ,mr4  

,ling ,roth in the ,halifax ,naturalist1
 ,june1 #ahih1 p4 #cb4 ,above these     
blades is a human head in relief1       
surmounted by a circular ring held in   
the mouth of a crocodile1 head          
downwards4 ,other parts are ornamented  
by sinuous snakes in relief4 ,it appears
 to have been used both as trumpet and  
axe4  ,figs4 #ceb and #cec4--;,bronze   
staff1 probably intended to be held in  
the middle4 ,ornamented at both ends    
with human figures back to back4 ,the   
stem ornamented with loops as in ,figs4 
#bjh and #bji1 ,plate ,,xxix4  ,figs4   
#ced and #cee4--;,bronze staff1 #d feet 
#aj-a_/b inches in length2 ornamented at
 top with the figure of a bird with a   
small ball in its mouth1 and apparently 
surmounting a leopard4 ,around it are   
ten leaf-shaped flanges ornamented with 
sinuous serpents1 holding birds and     
crocodiles in their mouths4 ,below this 
is a human figure standing with very    
large hands1 apparently clasped1 and    
thumbs projecting upwards1 out of all   

proportion to the size of the body2 on  
the shoulders of this figure are two    
sinuous snakes4 ,below this are figures 
representing a monkey and a bull4 ,the  
central figure is nude and kneeling with
 a cock in its hands1 resting on a      
cluster of hanging bells4 ,the lower    
part1 which is broken and detached from 
the upper part1 represents a human      
figure2 in his left hand a large        
neolithic celt1 and in his right hand a 
human-headed staff1 similar in design to
 ,figs4 #bgi and #bhj1 ,plate ,,xxxvi4  
,below and in front of this figure are  
smaller figures1 representing a human   
figure with a neolithic celt in the     
right hand and a spotted leopard1 with  
tail curled over head1 on the left4     
,rising from the head of the larger     
figure is an antelope1 with two snakes  
springing out of its mouth1 surrounded  
by representations of various weapons1  
points upwards4 ,the whole appears to be
 constructed of bronze1 surrounding an  
iron stem4     ,,description ,,of       

,,plate ,,xlvi4   ,figs4 #cef and       
#ceg4--;,bronze staff1 surmounted by a  
vulture holding something in its beak1  
as in ,figs4 #bhf to #bhh1 ,plate       
,,xxxvii2 ,fig4 #bga1 ,plate ,,xxxv1 and
 ,figs4 #ced and #cee1 ,plate ,,xlv4 ,in
 ,fig4 #aci1 ,plate ,,xxiii1 and in     
,antiquities from ,benin in the ,british
 ,museum1 ,plate ,,xxix1 ,fig4 #c1      
figures are shown holding these staves  
and striking them with rods4  ,figs4    
#ceh and #cei4--;,bronze seated figure1 
apparently of an ,european4 ,the dress  
has large buttons on one side4 ,the hat1
 with brim1 is ornamented with chevrons 
filled with parallel straight lines2 the
 moustache very long2 the nose aquiline 
and very large2 the shoulders guarded by
 wings4 ,left hand and forearm broken4  
,fig4 #cfj4--;,bronze or brass plaque1  
representing a figure standing to front1
 holding a piece of ring-money          
7,manilla7 in right hand1 similar to    
,plate ,,xxi1 ,fig4 #f1 ,antiquities    
from ,benin in the ,british ,museum1    

where their use and form are discussed  
7p4 #bg74 ,the dress has a single row of
 buttons1 somewhat similar to ,fig4     
#bdg1 ,plate ,,xxxii1 where however the 
coat is fastened with tags2 the left    
hand is similarly spread upon the chest4
 ,the face is prognathous1 but with     
hooked nose4 ,the hat appears to be an  
,european chimney-pot hat4 ,other cases 
of a pleated kilt occur in ,figs4 #abi1 
#bce1 #bcf1 #bdg1 #cbd1 #cbe1 and #cfa4 
,fig4 #cfa4--;,bronze plaque1           
representing a figure1 seated1 holding  
apparently a hand-cannon in both hands1 
the butt of which is curved down4 ,the  
dress has buttons on one side1 as in the
 previous figure1 and is surmounted by a
 vandyke ornamented collar of ,european 
type4 ,belt and pleated kilt4 ,face1    
apparently ,european1 aquiline nose4    
,european helmet4 ,european sword with  
guard on right side4  ,fig4             
#cfb4--;,iron axe1 in carved wooden     
handle and shaft2 with six wooden human 
faces1 the pupils of the eyes inlaid    

with lead4  ,figs4 #cfc and             
#cfd4--;,iron hammer4  ,figs4 #cfe and  
#cff4--,small human head in earthenware1
 being the only one of that material in 
this collection4 ,the pupils of the eyes
 are inlaid with iron2 two iron bands on
 the forehead1 of which the traces have 
nearly disappeared4 ,hole in top of head
 like those of bronze4 ,coral choker4   
,the features are well formed4  ,figs4  
#cfg and #cfh4--;,antelope's head1 in   
bronze1 with horns and ears4            
,,description ,,of ,,plate ,,xlvii4     
,figs4 #cfi to #cga4--;,bronze plaque1  
representing a sacrificial scene2 it    
contains eight human figures1 and a     
bullock just in the act of being        
slaughtered4 ,all the figures except one
 have native features1 dress1 etc41 and 
wear the insignia of executioners4 ,the 
remaining figure is evidently intended  
to represent a ,european4  ,figs4 #cgb  
and #cgc4--;,a carved ivory box in the  
form of a mud or cat fish4 ,the eyes are
 inlaid with lead4     ,,description    

,,of ,,plate ,,xlviii4   ,figs4 #cgd and
 #cge4--;,bronze statuette of a musician
 in the act of playing a wind           
instrument4 ,he wears a pot hat1 a      
collar1 and loose necklet hanging down  
over the chest1 also armlets and        
wristlets4 ,he wears a decorated loin   
cloth1 with a border representing a row 
of feathers1 and in the centre of the   
garment is a conventional leopard's     
face4 ,height of statuette is #bd-a_/b  
inches4  ,figs4 #cgf and #cgg4--,modern 
,benin sword2 the blade is iron and     
decorated with incised birds and a      
nondescript animal4 ,there are seven    
brass rivets hammered into the blade4   
,the handle is covered with leather4    
,length of blade1 #ag-c_/d inches4      
,figs4 #cgh and #cgi4--;,is a copper    
weapon which has had a wooden shaft4    
,this weapon is of too soft a metal to  
be of much use4  ,figs4 #chj and        
#cha4--;,an iron weapon of an old make4 
,the blade is decorated with an incised 
figure of a snake4 ,length of blade1    

#ba-a_/h inches4     ,,description ,,of 
,,plate ,,xlix4   ,figs4 #chb and       
#chc4--;,cubical metal lamp1 with       
handle1 chain and hook for suspension4  
,the hook is ornamented at its lower    
half with raised transverse incised     
lines and lozenge-shaped incisions4 ,it 
is attached to a chain of three links1  
the upper and lower ones being oval2 the
 middle one is #h-shaped4 ,the other end
 of the chain is attached to a loop     
which projects from the head of a nude  
human figure 7length of figure is       
#b-a_/b inches71 the feet of which are  
fixed by a loop of copper wire to the   
handle of the bar2 the handle has a     
zigzag guilloche pattern on the upper   
side4 ,there is a human face in relief  
on the sides of the body of the lamp1   
with fish-scale pattern on the          
groundwork4 ,the borders of the lamp are
 raised rope pattern1 and have a double 
loop knot at each corner4 ,the lamp has 
four legs1 and from the centre of the   
bottom is a small round piece           

projecting1 and not so long as the legs4
 ,it is capped with a circular bottom1  
which is decorated with incised         
concentric circles4 ,height from top of 
hook when suspended is #bf inches4      
,fig4 #chd4--,metal armlet1 ornamented  
with five rows of inlaid copper         
conventionalized cat-fishes and human   
faces2 the latter have long hair1 long  
whiskers1 and long noses4 ,height1      
#e-g_/h inches4  ,fig4 #che4--,metal    
box1 cylindrical in form1 ornamented    
with three longitudinal rows of ox      
skulls in relief1 and incised human     
faces4 ,height1 #g inches4  ,fig4       
#chf4--,wooden comb1 with carved design4
  ,fig4 #chg4--;,cast metal bowl4 ,the  
small opening at the top is situated in 
the centre of an incised rosette2 this1 
together with four similar but smaller  
rosettes1 are coated with a copper wash4
 ,on the base is a rosette within a     
circle4  ,fig4 #chh4--;,cast metal bowl4
 ,distributed over the body of the bowl 
are eleven finely executed ,maltese     

crosses4  ,fig4 #chi4--,quadrangular    
bronze bell1 ornamented on three sides  
with open reticulated work1 framed in by
 a border of the guilloche pattern4 ,a  
conventional face1 with long hair and   
beard1 is on one of the reticulated     
sides4 ,near the base of the ornamented 
side is a small roughly circular hole4  
,height1 #f inches4     ,,description   
,,of ,,plate ,l4   ,figs4 #cij and      
#cia4--,large metal bell4 ,on one side  
is a human face in relief1 with snakes  
issuing from the nostrils4 ,each of the 
two snakes grasps a mud or cat fish in  
its jaws4 ,the ears project from the    
sides of the head-dress1 and the neck   
has a frill consisting of a double row  
of perforated circles4 ,the handle has  
an incised herring-bone ornamentation4  
,projecting from the sides of the bell  
are eight knobs4 ,the base and crown of 
the bell have a border of strap-work    
pattern4 ,height of bell1 #aj inches4   
,figs4 #cib and #cic4--;,carved wooden  
head1 which may have been a mask4       

,represents the head of a negro2 it is  
hollow1 and may have been intended for a
 mask1 as there are open slits          
underneath each eye4 ,the hair is       
represented by incised reticulated      
lines4 ,the three black lines over the  
eyes represent cicatrices4 ,the lower   
part of the face is rounded1 and the    
chin not marked4 ,height1 #ac inches4   
99       99       99       99       99  
,transcriber's note3   ,there is no     
figure #acf in the printed book1 and the
 annexed woodcut referred to in the     
description of fig4 #ccg was not        
included4 ,the figures in ,figs4 #bfe1f1
 ,plate #ce on p4 #df were hand-written4
   ,the following apparent errors have  
been corrected3  p4 #ef ,figs #aib and  
#aic4 changed to ,figs #aib and #aic4   
p4 #fe ,fig4 #aha ,plate ,,xxvii changed
 to ,fig4 #aha1 ,plate ,,xxvii  p4 #fe  
,vol ,i changed to ,vol4 ,i  p4 #gj     
elephants's changed to elephant's  p4   
#gd ,fig4 #bhb4 changed to ,figs4 #bha  
and #bhb4  p4 #id ,figs #cgb and #cgc   

changed to ,figs4 #cgb and #cgc  p4 #ih 
,fig #che4 changed to ,fig4 #che4   ,the
 following possible errors have not been
 changed3  p4 iv conquerers  p4 #cb     
tattoed  p4 #db rivetted   ,the         
following are used inconsistently in the
 text3  a ,european and an ,european    
cat fish and cat-fish  ground-work and  
groundwork  ,juju and ,ju-ju  mouthpiece
 and mouth-piece  mudfish and mud-fish  
semicircles and semi-circles