There is a false bottom in this piece with a small compartment beneath it. The mouse is placed in the small compartment and small items are arranged in the compartment above it with some food. When the mouse comes up to eat the food, with the cover on the box, he moves the items around in a way that allows the tribal spiritual leaders to read the future.
Many African tribes have means of divining the future.
This is the way the Baule do it. The item is 18 inches high.