纪录片《大英博物馆世界简史》 065泰诺仪式用椅（3）（在线收听）

The Taino people believed that they lived in parallel with an invisible world of ancestors and gods, from whom their leaders could seek knowledge of the future. A duho would be owned only by the most important members of a community, and it was the vital means of getting through to the realm of the spirits. It was in one sense a throne, but it was also a portal, and a vehicle to the supernatural world.

It's about the size of a foot-stool, a small curved seat, carved out of rich dark wood, highly polished and gleaming. Carved at the front is a grimacing, goggle-eyed creature, which looks almost human, with an enormous mouth and wide ears. It's got two arms planted on the ground, and these two arms form the front two legs of the stool. From there a broad curve of wood sweeps upwards, like a wide beaver tail, supported at the back by two more legs. This creature looks like nothing on earth, but one thing is certain - it's male. Underneath this strange composite being, and between the hind legs, are carved male genitals.