Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22

gift of the king to the subjects he wishes
to favor: others are of yellow wood with
red and black decorations. and lids and
handles attached by cords These are
used for preserving the AbysSinian ma
tional hair dressing and perfume, which
is the oil from rancid butter.
Among the ornaments are to he found
neckletS of brass rods looped "A the ends
and covered with brass wire, armlets
made Of sections cut from elephant tusks
polished and beautifully stained through
long usage. ankletS OF hammered brass
Most unique of all is the earring. which
weighs half a pound. This consists OF a
circlet of ivory. nearly i've inches n
diameter. TO which is attached by hole
IN the ivory locking circlet of brass
wound with brass wire.
Eating utensils % any description. eN-
cept knives and spoons. are considered
entirely unnecessary 10y the mass of tn"
population % AhvsSinia. So table ware
* noticeahly absent. Raw meat being
the favored article of food. there is little
need for pots. kettles and pans. All thai
is To he seen is spoon cut from cow
horn. These primitive people DO moi he
lieve in the use 81 much i'm tho way 90
bed linen. since their pillows consist or
wooden head rests made from single
piece of yellow wood. blackened and
painted dark brown.
The lasso and horse bell in this coliec-
tion are much like those used throughout
Africa The bell is used in case Of war
and cattle hell to keep off Wild ami
mails. II is a conical shell of iron. beaten
out of rod or har and provided with a
clapper OF bit of iron bar on ring Ii
is attached to a leather neck yoke.
The religious pictorial paintings and
brass work deserve the longest study be
cause of their very wonderful amount OF
detail. The workmanship of the brass
plate. with the design cut out by chisel
and hammer. Is % ancient origin
The religious paintings and scrolls rep
resent various biblical stories, such as
that OF Lazarus and the rich man and
the coronation % Mary. while a folding
triptych of wood. covered with paper. the
leaves closing into the frame on leather
hinges like an eikOn. portrays In the
center picture the Virgin and Child seat
ed ON a terraced throne guarded by the
archangels Gabriel and Michael with
drawn swords One leaf shows St
George on white horse Sla wing a dragon
and on the opposite side stands Tekla
Haimanout. the patron saint of Abyssin-
ia, one-legged winged man of patriar-
chal aspect. The coloring is crude aud
vivid. The backgrounds are of bright
yellow and the figures of purple. red.
green and yellow.
Other paintings and scrolls treat OF
Abyssinian historical events. such as the
battle of Adcwa in 1896. and another por-
trays King Menelek and his queen receiv-
ing the benediction OF heavenly beings.
two OF whom are holding red umbrellas
over the heads OF the royal pair.
The collection also contains specimens
OF the coinage, which is based on the
Austrian thaler of Maria Theresa : reign.
and also the written language. and what
to us is most interesting OF all. the ma
tive costume which consists OF mantle
of tanned goatskin slashed on sleeve ana
shirt and ornamented on the outside
with leather applique Ii is made or
single skin folded on itself. the sleeNeli q
appendage and portion Of the fringe be-
ing sewed to the upper and lower edges
Suspended from one edge of the mantle
is a small bamboo bottle presumably Tor
holding oil. The garment il worn by the
neonle of the mountain districts, and Is
about forty-two inches in length