Evening star., 1902-08-28
THE TRADE IN IDOLS
MAKING FALSE GODS A FLOUR
IsHING BUSINESS.
English, German and French Turn Out
Fine Fetishes - Tribes in
Africa Good Buyers.
From London Answers,

From London Answers.
In the capital Of the Sultan Of Muscat
there is established firm of traders-the
only one of it's kind-whose chief business
is dealing in idols These strange gods
are made of ivory, brass, wood, iron and
cork. The firm has agents scattered
throughout East Africa, from the Natal
coast right away to Delagoa; but it is in
the north of this particular territory where
fetishism is most popular, and it is there
that the Zanguebar firm transacts the
greater part of its god-dealing business.
1t has also a branch in the Senegambian
part Of Africa, which embraces Coomassic,
Abomey. Benin, Loango, Congo, Angelo
and Benguela, places where the natives
mostly savages, carry on extensively the
worshiping of sticks and stones for gods.
Now, various sorts of savages have va
rious kinds of gods, and chiefly their idols
are crude images, fashioned by crude
hands. But a spirit Of modern enterprise
has developed even In the savage breast,
and the custom Of the savage making his
own fetish. or god, which has been OBJ
served from time immemorial, Is now CIV
ing place to the newer method Of buying
idols in the cheapest market; hence the
reason for the Zanguebar idol-dealing firm
coming into existence.
No Credit Given.
They are ready to supply to the savage
tribes gods great and small, loving or war
like, made Of paper, wood or ivory, or the
most precious metal, on terms which pay
them and please their dusky customers.
And no credit is given and no risk Is run
in worthless checks base coin, for the
bill is paid in the local territorial currency,
namely, in yams, bananas, rice, palms,
maize, dourra, nuts and beans, or in gold
metal, palm oil, ivory, gums and cowries,
or in cattle or slaves This merchandise
is converted into money in the capitals.
Some of the idols are dreams Of first-class
workmanship, for the Zanguebarians have
imported workmen from various parts Of
the world whose whole laborS are expended
ages look with eyes Of tenderness and ven
Grafton. Ivory and certain kinds Of wooden
gods are principally made on African terri
tory-those Of the cheaper kinds-but the
more pretentious and expensive gods are
made in France, Germany and England in
factories, the existence of which nobody on
this side of the world has hardly ever
dreamed.
Best From England.
In the heart Of the metropolis Of the Mid
lands is the English factory; there is an
other at Mines, France, and one at Griez
in Germany. The orders are sent direct to
these establishments from Zanguebar, SO
that there is need for surprise If their
existence is unknown. The business is
unique, since it has no competitors and no.
body travelling about Europe for orders.
The very best of the idols come from the
English factory, since it Is situated in the
worlds center for hardware and nickel
stuff, and where gold and silver articles are
made every week by the thousand, and
where the greater bulk Of the worlds me-
tallic production is consigned.
The tribes Of the Senegambian district
of Africa believe that every misfortune
proceeds from and can only be averted by
their gods, so that in order to propitiate
them the poor misguided souls have their
fetishes or idols made in rich metals; that
Is the general practice. A chief will readily
pay 500 barrels Of palm oil for the native
fetish, which may consist Of gold-cased
monster in the shape Of a gfendish head
with light eyes, or serpent with three
heads fixed to a long pole Of ivory.
Command Good Prices.
The Solomon Island tribes do not usually
erect their idols in the open; they are
placed inside the houses and are monstrosi-
ties Of the more sober sort than Of most of
the tribes The gods are fishes, snakes and
birds. The natives are good customers Of
the god merchants. who received from them
Tor an ornamental fetish fish, the outlines
OF which are foreign to the naturalist, per-
haps two or three crocodiles, either parcel
being worth about $126. while for a carved
ivory bird. which resembled more q dog
than a bird. diamonds and gold nuggets to
the value Of $1.250 settled the bill Of King
Benparmassin Of Molucca.
the @ English n made gods cost any sum
In the valley Of the Mombas there L. in