[DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVII.]
Fig. 178.—Ivory trumpet, made of the point of an elephant’s tusk. Mouth-hole on the convex side. The butt end is ornamented with two snakes in two bands, tails in mouths.
Fig. 179.—Bronze plaque, with five figures; the central figure with coral choker, badge of rank, coral or agate head-dress with feather, and sash. Broad leaf-shaped sword upheld in right hand; spear, point down, in left. Two boys, one with ivory trumpet, the other holding a brass box nearly similar to Figs. [122 and 123], Plate XXI. These objects have been described by Messrs. Read and Dalton as drums in their paper in the “Journ. Anthrop. Inst.,” Vol. XXVII, Plate XVIII, Fig. 4. Viewed as a drum, the projecting flanges at top and bottom are not explained. Leopard’s head on girdle. Attendants carrying shields; quadrangular bells on necks. The left attendant is holding the same spear as the central figure, point down, as in Fig. [17], Plate IV. Head-dresses of attendants with ornaments of cowrie shells. Ground ornamented with leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised.
Fig. 180.—Bronze plaque, representing the figure of a warrior, with unusually formed helmet, apparently of metal. Quadrangular bell on neck and teeth necklace. Shield on right arm, and spear with square cap at butt end, point downwards, in left hand. The ground is ornamented with two half-moons and the usual leaf-shaped foil ornaments incised.
Fig. 181.—Bronze plaque, representing three figures, the central one beating a drum with his fingers, and no drum-sticks. The drum has pegs with knobs to fasten down the skin, like Fig. [248], Plate XXXII, and similar to the Jekri drum figured in the “Journ. Anthrop. Inst.,” Vol. I, New Series, Plate VIII, Fig. 5. Quadrangular bell on chest. Both the side figures hold sistri with two bells, like Figs. [76 to 78], Plate XII, upheld in their left hands, which they are beating with sticks in their right hands. This plaque gives a fair idea of the kind of music used in Benin.