Fetichism in West Africa : $b forty years' observation of native customs and superstitionsNassau, Robert Hamill
Philosophy
Fetichism in West Africa : $b forty years' observation of native customs and superstitions
Nassau, Robert Hamill
Ethnology -- Africa, West; Fetishism -- Africa, West
Nkombe starts to go to Ogula-ya-impazya-vazya, who presently sees him
coming. As soon as Nkombe reached him, Ogula-ya-impazya-vazya said, "If
you come to me for medicine, good, for that is my only business; but if
for anything else, clear off!" "Yes, that is what I came for."
So Ogula-ya-impazya-vazya began to kindle his big fire. Nkombe was
surprised, not knowing what was to be done with the fire. The next minute
he sees Ogula-ya-impazya-vazya throw himself into the flames. Nkombe was
startled and afraid, thinking, "Is this man going to kill himself for me?"
The prophet rolled himself several times in the fire in order to get the
power. Some of his pimples on his body burst in the flame; and he jumped
out, ready with his power to do the medicine. He said, "Hah, repeat your
story; I am ready!" Nkombe told all his story,--how he had worked for
himself, and how for a few days past he had been helped by some one, and
wanted to know who it was, if Ogula-ya-impazya-vazya would please tell
him. "Hah, that's a small matter for me!" So the prophet told him, "You
killed ntori for yourself a few days ago, and this being is a woman who
has come to be your wife, and has hidden herself in ntori." "But," said
Nkombe, "how shall I be able to catch her, so that she shall be a real
woman, for I do not see her?"
"I'll let you know how. Go back and hunt all the same for three days. On
the fourth day go out as usual, but do not go hunting. Hide near the
olako,--near, but not where you will be seen." Then the prophet gave
Nkombe a prepared powder, and told him to keep it carefully. He gave him
also a small cornucopia (ozyoto) full of a bruised medicinal leaf, and
told him, "Go and put these two medicines in a secret place near your
olako. On the fourth day have these two medicines with you where you hide.
When you see her come out, and while she is doing your work, you will run
and seize her, and say to her, "You are my wife." She will not understand
your language, and will murmur and shake her head and resist. But when you
hold her fast, sprinkle the powder all over her body. Then take the ozoto,
and squeeze some of the juice in her nostrils, eyes, and mouth. She will
begin to sneeze. Repeat the words, 'You are my wife, my wife!' Then she
will understand you, and will yield."
So Nkombe took the medicines, and obeyed directions; hid the medicines and
hunted the three days, his heart bursting with anxiety to get the days
done that seemed so long. At last the three days were over and the fourth
day came.
Now the woman, by the power that was with her, knew all these things; she
knew she would be caught that day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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