Ashanti gold weights

I acquired these little figures when I was living for a year in Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana (which used to be known as the Gold Coast), in the early 1970's. They are traditionally used for weighing gold, which is mined there.

Currently these little men live on top of a bookcase in our living room. We have found them useful seismic indicators during the recent earthquake activity here in Christchurch because they vary in stability, the most unstable toppling with a relatively minor shaking. A severe disturbance has all six lying down, but we rate 2, 3 and 4 figure shakes as well. Of course, in the major quakes the bookcase fell too, throwing everything on top of it neatly behind the cushions on the couch... no damage! Anyway, when we come back from a trip away, with these little men, we can easily assess whether there has been a significant aftershock in our absence.