1922.25.5.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Wooden toy pop-gun for shooting goats' dung pellets consisting of a stick [.2] inside a cylinder [.1] [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 8/3/2005]

Long description

Wooden toy 'pea-shooter' made in two pieces, consisting of a round-sectioned piece of light yellowish brown wood (Pantone 7509C), hollowed out to form a cylinder with open ends. These ends taper slightly where the surface has been shaved, leaving distinctive tool marks in the form of a series of facets. The rest of the cylinder surface has been slightly polished. A separate stick has been inserted through the centre of the cylinder; this has been cut to size and may have had some bark removed, but is otherwise unmodified. It is roughly straight, with some slight natural irregularities of form. This stick slides up and down the cylinder, acting as a piston to fire pellets out from the larger, open end. The surface of the stick is stained with dark brown patches, perhaps from the dung that made up each pellet, and the firing end is slightly splayed and has begun to fray. The object is complete and intact, with minor surface scratches and discolouration. The stick is 418 mm long and has a diameter of 8 mm, while the cylinder is 308 mm long and has an external diameter of 18.5 mm, while the hole through it measures 11 mm across. The object weights 62.1 grams in total [RTS 5/7/2004].

Geographical reference

South Sudan

Africa > Eastern Africa > South Sudan

Bahr el Jebel Eastern Equatoria Between Mongalla and Torit Tarangala

Cultural groups

Lotuko

Otuho

Koriok

Person

Field collector Charles Gabriel Seligman

Field collector Brenda Zara Seligman

PRM source Charles Gabriel Seligman

Date / Period

Date made: Before 01/02/1922

Date collected

1st February 1922

Acquisition information

Donated: 1922

Materials and processes

Material Wood Plant, Material Bamboo Plant, Process Carved, Process Polished

Dimensions

Length: max 418 mm, Diameter: max 18.5 mm, Diameter: max 11 mm, Diameter: max 8 mm, Length 308 mm, Weight 62.1 g

Object numbers

Accession number: 1922.25.5.1 Accession number: 1922.25.5.2

Research and responses

The town of Mongalla is located in the modern administrative district of Bahr el Jebel, while Torit lies in Eastern Equatoria [RTS 11/11/2003].

Brenda Seligman mentions this item in her journal on the 1st February, 1922, while at Tarangala: "While waiting [to get into the house of Etiame widow of Lokiti, who they hoped to visit] saw a small boy playing with a pop gun, made of bamboo, goat dung used as missile – it makes a fine pop. CGS bought it". A note on the facing page adds: "I have not seen one any where else, if it is an invention, it is a very clever one". The journal from which this excerpt has been taken is held in the London School of Economics Library archives, file 1/4/6 (FL 7/9/2004).

Search terms: Toy and Game, Firearm Weapon, Toy, Firearm