Cane delicately decorated with beads in a complex geometric pattern, collected in Mozambique in the nineteenth century by José Maria Carvalho e Rego. The beads, sold by Arab and European traders, were transported in glass jars from the coast to the various villages where skilled artisans used them. Their high cost required the exchange of large quantities of maize and potatoes to obtain a sufficient number of beads for crafting. Consequently, artefacts such as this elaborately decorated cane, which demanded a considerable amount of raw materials, reflected the economic and social power of its owner.