Elephant Tail

An elephant tail, with a bound cloth handle. Elephant tails, such as this one, are widely recognised as a symbol in chieftaincy in some parts of Sierra Leone. Alldridge describes obtaining this tail on pp.172-73 of his book, The Sherbro and its Hinterland (London: Macmillan, 1901): The town of Garahun was a clearing in the forest in which during the rainy season elephants are met. Hearing than an elephant had only lately been shot, I had the hunter of the town brought before me with his gun, which I found to be a trade weapon costing about 18s. - and known as a Long Red Dane - with a flint lock. With this weapon he was enabled to shoot and kill elephants. I purchased the tail of the beast he had shot, also some of the pads from its feet, from which the people make the elephant bangles which are worn by the Krubas or head warriors.

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Further Information

• Type: Regalia
• Object: Elephant Tail
• Materials: Leather, animal skin
• Culture Group: Other
• Dimensions: 590mm [L] x 200mm [W] x 50mm [W]
• Production Date: Pre 1899
• Associated Places: Garahun, Tunkia Country
• Associated People: Thomas Joshua Alldridge (Collector)
• Museum: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
• Accession Number: BMAG:R3483/128[a]

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