Whatsit?

It looks genuinely old. The outside seems like wood with some grain and a knot looking bit. Inside is coated is some black stuff about 1/8 inch thick which is shrunken up. About eight inches tall. Smells like tobacco.

 

Looks like a water gourd.....African....?

 

Reminds me of an Ethiopian milk jug.....but that's just me !!

 

Possibly similar is this, listed as an Ethiopian tobacco container:

http://www.ebay.nl/itm/Ethiopia-Old...thentic-Oromo-Tobacco-Container-/291526314137

 

It is wood - not gourd

I really wouldn't expect old repairs on tourist tat

 

The one I linked is listed as wood also, or "carved from a big seed" whatever that means - might mean gourd, I suppose. I claim no knowledge of African items, but I found a number of African wood containers with similar decoration, similar strapping, and also evidence of old repairs.
It does have some similarity to Ethiopian milk jugs but I'd trust the fact that it smells like tobacco as an indication of past use.

 

Burnt tobacco

Looking at pics on liveauctioneers, there is a basket one with the same black crud look inside.

 

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/233...earch_query=african milk jug&ref=sr_gallery_2

Well whatever it is....I think I'm good with Ethiopia ...

 

From what I've seen, their milk is usually cattle blood

 

Be careful, I recall watching an episode of "Sky King" one Saturday morning in the late 1950's where a somewhat similar organic object was contaminated with anthrax and left a trail of sick people wherever it went. Sky had to fly his plane, Song Bird, all over to catch up to it. At least he had his beautiful niece Penny (she was hot!) with him. I'm sure the show's writers wouldn't have made up anything that wasn't completely realistic, would they?

 

Why is she on one foot ?
Did the anthrax get her ????

 

Anthrax, not leprosy, Komo.

 

Oh! I couldn't have forgotten her! Or could I.....I loved that show! Had planes like Sky's and anything to do with the show but her....
At that time such people were just gurls so maybe that was it.

 

She sure was the all american barbie !!!