> Perhaps you should't, we have a lot of trouble with ethnographical > objects and we're never shure if it's the soul of all these stolen god's > ore simply PCP and dioxin. > > I guess I better watch my collections more carefully. I've seen a large > > African mask with teeth > > looking covetously at a small wooden turtle. Should I start doing > > inventories more often? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually I heard a relavent story about the Heard museum here in Phoenix. As some of you may know, the Heard museum has a huge collection of Native American Indian items, some of which are burial and ceremonial relics. http://www.heard.org As an effort to keep in good relations with the local tribes, the museum has returned some of the items that the tribes view as sacred. During this time, which ever tribe was involved (I can't remember) insisted on cleansing the museum and everyone that touched the relic in a pipe ceremony. The Heard also has a large collection of Kachina dolls, that are believed to be alive (at least in spirit). The tribes perform 'feeding' ceremonies annually. For more (accurate) information contact: Richard Pierce-Moses [log in to unmask] R.B. Wilkins .......................................................................... O-