IDNO

N.19117.ROS

Description

Distant view of a salt-worker ‘scraping up the sand’ at the salt-works, Kibero, Bunyoro. "In the riverbed are the salt claims of the inhabitants, each claim well defined and marked out with stones” (Roscoe, 1922, p. 160). The stones used to mark out a claim are visible in this image (to the right).

Physical Condition: Film is a yellow colour.

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Bunyoro; Kibero

Cultural Affliation

Banyoro (Bakitara)

Named Person

Photographer

?Roscoe, John R.

Collector / Expedition

Roscoe, John R. [Mackie Ethnological Expedition, Uganda, 1919 - 1920]

Date

1919 - 1920

Collection Name

Roscoe Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in an envelope marked C30/66/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C30/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Image published in Roscoe, J., 1923. The Bakitara (or Banyoro): The First Part of the Report of The Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), p. 241, Plate XXXI, with the caption: "Lake Albert. Salt-worker gathering up sand for washing out salt at Kibero.”
Similar image published in Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 160, with the caption: "Bunyoro: Salt-works at Kibero. Scraping up the sand.” [ED 10/1/2008]

Context: "The salt-districts are therefore of great importance and are worked with considerable skill by men and women whose whole lives are spent in the production of the necessary supply. The salt-works of Bunyoro are situated at Kibero, a district which lies along the shore of Lake Albert and on the lower slopes of the escarpment. There, during the rainy season, the water from the hills rushes down to the lake in a river which, for the time, floods the salt-beds and prevents the collection of the salt. Under the rocky bed of intermittent river there runs a stream of hot medicated water, which bubbles up through the rock in hot springs all along the course of the river for fully a mile and a half from the base of the escarpment. In the riverbed are the salt claims of the inhabitants, each claim well defined and marked out with stones. To obtain the salt they spread over the rock surface in the dry season a kind of sand, and the water, which contains many saline substances, bubbles through the holes in the rock and saturates the sand. After lying for some hours the sand becomes impregnated with salt and is scraped up and washed in pots, which are perforated with small holes at the bottom, so that the water, carrying the substances held by sand, filters into a large vessel underneath. This water is then put into pots over a wood fire and evaporated, leaving a crust of salt deposit behind it. This is very impure and dark in colour, but, if necessary, it can be washed and evaporated repeatedly until it becomes fairly white. Even when thus purified it contains other compounds than sodium chloride , and to a European the flavour is unpleasant, though it is possible to use it in cooking without finding the taste too pungent. The people have no knowledge of the art of refining the product and eliminating the objectionable properties.” (Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 159 - 160.). [ED 10/1/2008]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 10/1/2008]