The Lerman Collection
75
pi. XXVI), Maesen (1950, p. 27), Ol-
brechts (1959, pp. 85—6, pi. XXXVIII).
1/290 is a small head called by Burssens
“Amulet-mask“ (see Leiden mask No
958—46). This head has all the characte
ristic tattooing of the Ngbandi described
above. A thong from the mask suspends
three pieces of wood and another one
wrapped in snakeskin. The colour is black
with a reddish sheen. Merely described by
Lerman as from the Upper Congo. H.:
11 cm. Zagreb Museum, 1891.
1/308
1/308 is described by Lerman as a
“whistle of the war-fetish Mongwandi“.
The head is fixed on a staff and a leather
thong is drawn through it from which
hangs a piece of wood and a fruit kernel.
H.: 29 cm. Zagreb Museum, 1891.
Such objects are described by Burssens
(1954, Leiden No B. 51 —123) as “amulet-
staffs“, a description which seems to be
appropriate. The tattooing, however, dif
fers from other similar heads known from
the photographs or seen in the collections.
In his diary Lerman describes the tat
tooing of the “Mongalla“ (riverain tribes
of the North): They incise the forehead,
which is high and developed, with marks
about half a centimetre wide, after which
they smear it with a mixture of earth and
some juice. When the wounds heal promi
nent scars remain. Near the ear three scars
in the shape of a palm leaf are incised.
Similar marks are scored on the legs and
the chest where they are particularly vi
sible.
Of some artistic value are the ivory
spoons of the Vagenia, otherwise known
as fishermen, canoe and paddle makers,
1/305 An ivory spoon with a handle
pierced in the middle and cut in a zig-zag
form. The top of the handle is decorated
with dots cut into ivory. According to
Lerman from the Vagenia (Stanley Falls).
L.: 17 cm. Zagreb Museum, 1891.
1/304 and 1/306 are ivory spoons with
different decorations but of the same pro
venance. L.: 13 cm and 16 cm. Zagreb
Museum, 1891.
Compare (MRAC No 34.419 and
35.893—4).
An interesting example of early souve
nir industry are the Zappu-Zappu axes
artistically ornamented.
1/196 The axe with the artistically
wrought blade and copper covered shaft,
the so-called “Kasai-type“. This axe comes
from the Zappu-Zappu (Nsapusapu), a
Songye sub-tribe in the Luluaburg area.
According to Lerman from Kasongo. L.:
32.5 cm. Zagreb Museum, 1891.
Such types occur frequently in different
Ethnographic collections in the world.
Tervuren has a great number of them.
They originate mainly from the Songe-
Luba region between Lualaba and the
Lulua and were made largely for export
or as souvenirs for travellers and officials.