Nuer sling
Other views of this artifact:
Accession Number:
1931.66.23
Country:
Sudan
Region:
[Southern Sudan]
Cultural Group:
Nuer
Date Made:
By 1931
Materials:
Grass Fibre Plant
Process:
Twisted , Knotted , Netted
Dimensions:
L = 1100 mm, L carrying loop = 250 mm, L bag part = 440 mm, diam rope = 12 mm, diam cords = 4.5 mm, w strands = 3 mm [RTS 9/7/2004].
Weight:
112.0 g
Other Owners:
Collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard either in the early part of 1930 (probably February to April), or between February and June of 1931 [CM; RTS 9/7/2004].
Field Collector:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
PRM Source:
Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard
Acquired:
Donated December 1931
Collected Date:
1930 - 1931
Description:
Sling made from several strands of light yellowish brown twisted grass fibre (Pantone 466C), woven together at intervals to form a net bag which can be used to carry large vessels.
This consists of a thick rope at the top made from three fibre cords twisted together.
At its top, this rope has been bent into a carrying loop, with the loose end passed around the rope's body and secured by weaving one of its cords back through the loop on the other side.
The end has been fastened with a firm knot.
This upper part serves as a carrying loop or handle for the sling.
At its base the rope divides into 8 narrower cords, each similarly made of twisted strands, with another cord wound 4 times around the area where these two parts join.
These cords remain separate for the next 420 mm, at which point they are fastened into groups of two by a single strand from each cord being taken across to its neighbour and woven into its body.
These strands cross from one to the other two or three times over a 20 mm section.
The cords then separate again for a further 140 mm before being fastened using the same technique to their partner on the other side.
This is repeated four times down the body, and in this way each cord is joined briefly to its neighbour, first to the right, and then to the left, forming a network bag with large lozenge-shaped gaps in the sides and at the centre of the base.
The carrying sling is complete, and apart from some fraying of the constituent plan fibres, in good condition.
It has a length of 1100 mm; of this, the carrying loop at the top is 250 mm long, while the actual netted bag is 440 mm long.
The top rope has a diameter of 12 mm, while the narrower lower cords have diameters of 4.5 mm, and each strand making up those cords is 3 mm wide.
The total weight of the object is 112 grams.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
This sling was used for carrying pots. For another Nuer sling, see For 1931.66.24; for a Dinka sling, see 1934.8.18.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
This object was collected by Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard during his first or second seasons of fieldwork amongst the Nuer, e.g.: in February to April 1930 or between February and June of 1931, in 'the dry season'. In the former, he spent around three and a half months in Leek territory at Yahnyang and Pakur on the Bahr el Ghazal, in Lou territory at Muot Dit, and at Adok, amongst the Dok Nuer. In the latter, he spent five and a half months at Nasir, on the Nyanding River, and at Yakwat on the Sobat River (see E.E. Evans-Pritchard, 1940, The Nuer , and the map of Evans-Pritchard's fieldwork in D.H. Johnson, "Evans-Pritchard, the Nuer, and the Sudan Political Service", African Affairs 81 no. 323, p. 233) (pers. comm. Chris Morton 2004).
This sling was used for carrying pots. For another Nuer sling, see For 1931.66.24; for a Dinka sling, see 1934.8.18.
Rachael Sparks 18/9/2005.
Primary Documentation:
Accession Book Entry
[IX, p.
16] 1931 [insert, in pencil] 66 [end insert]
E.
EVANS-PRITCHARD
, Esq.
Dec.
Specimens collected by himself in the EASTERN SUDAN, viz.
[...] [pencil insert, p.
18] 23-24 [end insert] - [One of] 2 Rope slings, for carrying pots, NUER.
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Rope sling for carrying pots, NUER (NATH), E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans-Pritchard 1931 [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 9/7/2004].
Card Catalogue Entry - There is no further information on the tribes catalogue card [RTS 23/7/2004].
Old Pitt Rivers Museum label - Rope sling for carrying pots, NUER (NATH), E. SUDAN. Pres. by E. Evans-Pritchard 1931 [rectangular metal-edged tag, tied to object; RTS 9/7/2004].
