Description (Labels & Markings)
Sealed envelope 'On his Majesty's Service', originally addressed to 'The Treasury Officer. Nairobi. [illegible signature]'. Reused to enclose indigenous medicine. Hand-written note at the back: 'Kikuyu. Kihoho made from ashes of the roots of kibringa tree. Medecine to protect cattle. If a little is rubbed on the gate of the cattle boma or tied on to an animal's tail, and a thief comes to steal the cattle he will be caught or if a lion comes to carry off the cattle it will be shot.'

'Update: "[illegible] of the cattle horns" is changed to "gate of the cattle boma", suggested by Ella V. Beaudoin. Guey-Mei Hsu 22/11/2024'
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Production / use)
Catalogue card: 'used by various tribes.'
Event Date 1926
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Accession register for 1926.583.1-16: 'Box of medicines.'
Event Date 1926
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Description for 1926.583[.1-16]: 'Sealed glass bottle with "Chembe" written on label. Fifteen envelopes with original information written on them, which appear to hold medicine powders. All stored in an old cigar box.'
Event Date 15/1/2002
Author: Emily Shorter

Description (Physical description)
Kihoho. Indigenous medicine made from the ashes of the root of the Kibringa tree. Used to protect cattle. Stored in a sealed envelope. Originally stored in a cigar box, now kept with the object.
Event Date 31/3/2022
Author: Lucie Carreau