[Tim Simmons]

I can see as a stick fan I am in good company. Nice sticks but to be very frank I do not like the tourist walking stick from central east Africa? Having said that brings me to show this baton sized stick you sent me earlier in the year, I have just enough time before luncheon this New Years Day.
This stick intrigued me and the tourist word was never far from mind, except the size, just has no meaning to a tourist. I have spent some time thinking about it, then it dawned on me. The animal is a baboon. I have found a small amount of information relevant to baboon iconography.

West African Secret Societies, F.W.Butt-Thompson 1929 In his listing of secret societies Subversive and criminal Most of the criminal associations are "animal" societies. The titles are often known to Europeans as "Human Baboon" or "Human Leopard". They include Crocodile, Baboon, Boa, Leopard.

Most of these societies had more than one function, some like trade guilds. In the same book

Baboon Societies. Societies of this order are known in the hinterland of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and the Volta regions. Since 1910 notice has been taken of "Ape Men" in the Pujehan district of Sierra Leone. Sometimes the hide of the animal is used as a disguise, but more often marks are made on the victims to represent wounds made by the teeth of the beast.

More generally baboons can also represent forest divinity, a shaman becomes a baboon in trance to solve and communicate concerns. The baboon shown eating alludes to the voracious appetite and ability to devour a whole crop, is used as a sign of strength so to protect the village.

So on to the stick. Clearly not antique as the white plastic eyes show. This stick has gone from doubt to my very favourite at the present time. Who know what the new year will bring.