The full tail is EXTREMELY RARE and extremely difficult to obtain. The whole tail as well as the individual hairs from the tail were used as money. At one point 600-700 strands were worth one slave and later one full tail was worth 2-3 slaves. It was also believed that the hairs prevented disease.

Lit.: Charles J.Opitz: An ethnographic study of traditional money: pg.139

Ref.: MEG -ETHAF 035598    http://www.ville-ge.ch/meg/musinfo_public.php?id=035598